The entrance was beautifully lit up with string lights and small candles. On walking in, he had the announcer shout out who he was, and that Marjery was his fiancée. At this news, many scowls from various women were easily heard. He wouldn't be dancing with any of them tonight. Or ever again, for that matter. He even casually ignored their stares, as he led the stunning beauty at his side to their destined table. He was led to be set down at a table with the Chief and his wife.

His blond-haired wife was a touch fat, but only from good living. She did have a regal look in the dark red gown she wore. The Chief sported a fine mustache and beard that was well groomed. His thinning brown hair was swept over the top of his head, and his officer's hat was set on the table. He was wearing a similar outfit from Dupin's with the royal blue and gold, but he had on a few more badges to show his station. At the sight of the detective, he waved him over with a grin. "Detective Dupin! I was afraid you wouldn't make it! I was told there may have been some doubts."

"I know," Dupin laughed softly. "I wouldn't worry about that."

"As for the rest of your odd case, when did you want it cleared up?" the man asked when he leaned in to mildly whisper. He was always a man on duty. Dupin respected that.

"Tomorrow," Dupin said in a stern tone. "All of it needs to end tomorrow."

"We shall be ready," he nodded.

"I also brought my small hand pistol. I'm letting you know. Inner coat pocket."

"Good. You are not the only one here that's armed."

"Perfect. Oh. Here," Dupin said, as he took out Marjery's diary. He had so many pockets in his coats that it was easily carried and hidden away.

"Dupin?" she frowned. He leaned close to her to whisper.

"It holds the evidence we need. Remember. The words in there are of your past. I only want him to glimpse the evidence first. Then I'll take it back."

"You didn't read all of the pages I wrote. Did you?"

"Not yet."

"Good. I want to do that with you."

"Okay. We can do that," he nodded.

"Who's writing is this? The poor girl!" the Chief frowned.

"It was an old diary we found. None had claimed it, and we needed the empty pages. You can ignore the first twelve. What you need is behind them," Dupin said wisely.

"Ah! So it is," he nodded and flipped the pages to read. "This...is...disturbing..."

"I know," Dupin agreed.

"May I keep this?"

"I'll give you the pages you need. I'll keep the main book," Dupin said. He was able to carefully remove the evidence pages to give over. The Chief excused himself to lock the precious papers away. He also had a rather daring idea. The girl was being hunted to be forced into an unwanted marriage. He knew that Dupin clearly loved her with how he was protecting her. He wanted to help somehow. With a small grin, he knew what he wanted to do. And who I need to get. While he went to make a quick trip to the station, the music started up. Dupin smiled at his fiancée. "My dear, will you dance with me?"

"Of course," Marjery smiled. He placed her diary in a large inner coat pocket and lead her to the dance part of the floor. "I thought you weren't much for dancing."

"Slow dances are fine. My legs aren't what they used to be," he chuckled.

"Well, I'm honestly not much of a dancer," she admitted.

"Then I change my mind about dancing. Let's go to the terrace," he suggested. She nodded and he lead her up to a stone balcony covered in hanging ivy. The moon was starting to get fuller, and they sat on a carved stone bench. He kept one gloved hand on top of his cane. The other was secured around her waist. He was content to be just like this. This was what she preferred, too.

"What are the plans after this?" she asked.

"We go to your apartment, pay off whatever is left of your rent, and remove your belongings," he said sternly. "Then we return home to set you up with a permanent room."

"To your home?"

"Our home," he smiled to correct her. She blushed softly. "Was there a room that you liked?"

"Oh. I do like the room that I'm in now."

"Good! Consider it yours. I have a few other guest rooms. Although, I'm fairly sure that you could try sleeping in my room with me. After the wedding, of course."

"Ah..." she blinked and blushed hard. He smiled and tilted her face to his to kiss her fully. He was forced to break the kiss off when he heard someone approaching. Glancing over, he noticed the Chief with a rather amusing smile on his face.

"Something wrong?" Dupin asked.

"Not really," he admitted and sat next to them. "I need to ask you something."

"Go right ahead," Dupin nodded and let Marjery lean into him.

"You've known her for...oh...how long?" the Chief mused.

"Four years. It was the same amount of time that she left her home."

"Ah. And, my dear, how old are you? If it's all right to know?" he asked.

"Oh. I'm twenty-six years," she nodded. He glanced at Dupin. The detective was laughing softly at the man's inner judgment. Marjery trembled with her own quiet laughter.

"I didn't expect for all of this to happen," Dupin said mildly when he still got stared at.

"I knew you liked them young..." the Chief started.

"Shut up, you old dog," Dupin grinned. "She's an adult and is invaluable to me. Regardless of all this, she's still my assistant."

"Of course, she is," the Chief grinned back.

"Besides, Chief Officer Johansson," Dupin muttered. "I am curious as to why you came over."

"Ah. I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine. He was able to make it. Judge Oliver Stone. There he is!" the Chief waved him over.

"Greetings, Detective Dupin. And his lovely guest," the tall, thin man nodded. "I was informed of this...horrible act of misdeed. From your past. I will assist in bringing justice to it."

"Oh! Thank you so much," she smiled.

"Of course," he chuckled. "But, Detective Dupin, I do have a small set of questions for you."

"Oh?" Dupin frowned.

"Detective Dupin, you do love her?"

"I do. Very much so," he smiled.

"Good, good. And, ah, Marjery Delury? You love him, too?"

"Yes. Very much so," she blushed.

"Always important to know," the judge smiled. The Chief was silently bearing witness. Another officer was just off in the distance to witness, too. Then the judge asked, "If she were ill, would you care for her? Even if she were healthy?"

"Without a doubt!" he said quickly.

"And, dear lady, you would do the same for him?"

"I would drop everything, until I knew he was well," she said sternly.

"Until you both ended up on your deathbeds?" the judge prodded.

"Yes!" both Dupin and Marjery said together.

"Wonderful to hear!" the judge chuckled and brought out a document. "I doubt that anyone has any objections? No? Good! Please sign this for me. Both of you. I'll have to file it away after this ball is done. Or, I could run it up to my office with a quick carriage ride."

"Wait..." Dupin frowned and studied the document. "This is...a...wedding document..."

"And you both just told me your vows. I hereby pronounce you husband and wife," the honorable judge said with a deep nod. Dupin's jaw dropped. Marjery was just as stunned by it all.

"You'll need to get yourself a wedding band," Chief Johansson grinned ruefully.

"You put all this together!" Dupin said with shock at the man.

"I did," he grinned and nodded. "It had to be done."

"But...I..." Marjery said with her jaw dropped. Dupin was handed a pen, and, after a moment of stunned silent recollection, he signed the paper. He gave the pen over to his new wife, and she was able to just barely manage her signature. The Chief signed it next, and the man hiding just off in the distance walked forward to sign after him. They were the witnesses. The document was handed off to the judge to sign, and he left with it.

"We'll leave you two alone," the Chief said with a wink and had his officer follow him.

"Married. We're..." Dupin said with one of the rarest looks of complete shock he ever had.

"I can't...believe..." Marjery whispered. He looked at her with a thoughtful expression.

"I suppose...I shouldn't delay in this. But...I think...I should kiss the bride..." he muttered. He pulled her close and kissed her passionately.