Sophie shook her head. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to go down now.’
Prudence didn’t argue. She guessed rightly that Sophie was feeling nervous at the prospect of meeting the old Earl, and wished to get the ordeal over with as soon as possible.
‘Very well!’ she said. ‘His lordship won’t eat you, Sophie. You’ve taken a great worry from his mind. He’d begun to wonder if his heir would ever wed.’
‘I hope he will approve of me...’
‘How could he not do so? Besides, your little Kit has been an excellent ambassador. I haven’t seen the Earl so entertained for years.’
‘I hope Kit has behaved himself. He is no respecter of persons, as I’m sure you have discovered.’
‘It is that happy, open quality which has endeared him to all of us, my dear. Kit and the Earl have been closeted together for a full hour this morning. The Lord alone knows what plans they’ve hatched.’ Prudence began to chuckle. ‘Come on, let us go down to them.’
She took Sophie’s hand and they moved to the head of the great staircase. Then, even as they began to descend, Nicholas strode across the hall below.
‘Your love is impatient for you, I see.’ Prudence prepared to slip away. ‘Go to him, my dear. You have all my wishes for your future happiness.’ She turned and whisked away along the landing.
Sophie did not see her go. Her gaze was fixed on Hatton. She had a curious sensation of floating towards him in some kind of dream.
He stopped her before she reached the hall. ‘Stay there for just a moment!’ he begged. ‘I shall remember you all my life just as you look now.’
Sophie blushed, but she did as he asked, though she felt disposed to tease. ‘I am in borrowed plumage,’ she smiled. ‘Your aunt has been very kind.’
‘In borrowed plumage or your own, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.’ His look was so ardent that she blushed again. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her with an overwhelming passion which took her breath away.
At last she was forced to protest. ‘Nicholas, the servants !’ she whispered. ‘They will think this most unseemly.’
He held her away from him and gazed into her eyes. ‘Look about you!’ he suggested.
Sophie glanced about the hall. She could see no footmen, and even the porter’s chair was deserted.
‘Don’t you sense the air of celebration?’ he chuckled. ‘If I am not mistaken, they are gathered below to drink a health to us.’
She looked at his laughing face. The air of strain had gone, and happiness had smoothed the worried lines upon his face. She reached up to caress his cheek. ‘You look like an eager boy,’ she told him fondly. ‘They must have guessed our secret just from your expression.’
‘Certainly my father did so. Come and meet him, Sophie. He cannot rise to greet you, but you will understand...’ He took her hand and led her into the study.
Any doubts which Sophie might have felt were dispelled as she looked at the scene which greeted her. Kit was seated on the Earl’s knee, with an arm about the old man’s neck.
‘His lordship can’t get up,’ he told his mother instantly. ‘He was injured when he fought the smugglers.’
‘That is my claim to fame,’ a deep voice remarked. ‘It seems to find favour with your son. How are you, my dear? I hear we have much to thank you for.’
Sophie curtsied low, reassured by the kindly tone. ‘I was somewhat overtaken by events, my lord.’
‘Even so, you showed great courage, and Kit is proud of his mama, are you not, my boy?’
‘Yes, sir. Hatton says that she is...she is a pearl of great price.’
‘Well, we must all abide by what Hatton says,’ the Earl agreed solemnly. ‘Bless me, I had no idea that I had produced such a marvel of perfection.’
‘He can skate backwards, too,’ Kit offered.
‘Astonishing! I am overcome! Such godlike perfection!’
‘It pales beside the qualities of my coachman, Reuben, I assure you, Father. Now, Kit, the girls are waiting for you. They’ve challenged you to a game of spillikins. Let me take you to them.’ He stretched out his hand and Kit went with him willingly.
The Earl of Brandon looked at Sophie. ‘I had not thought to see my son so happy, my dear. I am most deeply in your debt.’
‘I love him,’ Sophie said simply. ‘Kit does not think more highly of him than I do myself. My worry was that you might find this match unsuitable.’
‘Why so?’
‘I am a widow and I have a son. When Nicholas met me I was running an inn. It was not the most auspicious of backgrounds, my lord.’
‘I think you have forgot to mention certain other matters. My son loves you, Sophie, and not only for your beauty, though you are indeed a lovely woman. I had begun to think that he would never wed. In fact, I have been guilty of trying to pressure him into marriage. I didn’t understand that he was looking for something which he has found only in you, and that, my dear, is a strength of character which he can admire.’
Sophie looked up at him with brimming eyes. She could not have wished for a nobler tribute. On an impulse she stretched out both her hands to him.
‘That’s right!’ The old man took her hands in his. ‘Now give me a kiss, my dear. Let me welcome you to our family.’
Hatton returned to find them deep in conversation. When his father held out his hand, he shook it heartily.
‘Congratulations!’ Brandon said. ‘You are the luckiest man alive, I think!’
‘I think so too!’ Hatton’s eyes devoured his love. ‘Sophie, when shall we be wed? It could be tomorrow if you wish it. I can get a special licence.’
The Earl of Brandon shook his head as he looked at the two lovers. ‘See what you have undertaken, Sophie! My son has not the least idea that ladies need time to buy a trousseau and to invite their friends to share their happiness in an elaborate ceremony!’
Sophie clutched Hatton’s hand. ‘I don’t care about such things,’ she whispered. ‘If you wish it, Nicholas, it shall be tomorrow.’
His look was reward enough for her, but now the old Earl chuckled. ‘My boy, you are likely to be far too much indulged,’ he teased. ‘Sophie, take care that you don’t always let him have his own way.’
Hatton slipped an arm about his love. ‘My darling won’t do that. Father, you have no idea! She can be the most difficult woman in the world.’
Sophie’s laughing protests died upon her lips as Prudence entered the room accompanied by Claudine Arouet.
The little Frenchwoman’s eyes were twinkling as she looked at Nicholas. ‘So you have won your lady, my dear? I guessed that this would be the outcome from the first.’
Sophie blushed and shook her head, but Madame came to kiss her. ‘It is good!’ she said quietly. ‘You are well matched, I think. Allow me to wish you every happiness.’
Prudence added her own congratulations. ‘Shall you wish to dine with the family this evening?’ she asked with her usual frankness. ‘If you wish it, Sophie, I will send a tray up to your room. You must be exhausted.’
‘I should be,’ Sophie admitted. ‘But I’m not. I’ll be happy to dine with you tonight.’ It was true. She had never felt more alive. Now she wanted to savour every moment. It had taken a brush with death to convince her that nothing was more precious than life itself. And that future life would be filled with happiness, she knew. Nothing mattered now except the love which would encompass Kit and herself.
That evening they dined at an unfashionably early hour, but the gaiety could not have been surpassed at the table of the Prince Regent himself. Any doubts which Sophie might have had about her welcome were soon dispelled as one toast followed another to her future happiness.
She smiled as she looked about her, unfolding like a flower in the sun as the warmth of the family’s affection flowed towards her. How alike they were—these Wentworth men with their dark colouring and their massive build! The Earl, his brother Sebastian, her own Nicholas and Sebasti
an’s sons resembled each other so strongly. Beside them, their women-folk looked fragile, but Sophie was undeceived. Both Claudine Arouet and Prudence had overcome hardship in the past. That much she had learned from Nicholas.
Then the Earl of Brandon raised a hand for silence. ‘My son has set us a good example,’ he announced with a twinkle. ‘Claudine, have I your permission to let the family into our secret?’
For answer, the little Frenchwoman took his hand in hers.
Sebastian laughed. ‘Brother, let us guess,’ he teased. ‘Claudine has agreed to become your wife?’
Prudence looked at her husband in mock indignation. ‘You have spoiled the surprise!’ she said.
A murmur of amusement rippled around the table. The Earl looked at the circle of laughing faces and threw up his hands in a gesture of resignation. ‘What a family!’ he said. ‘Never try to keep a secret in this household, Sophie! You won’t succeed, I can assure you.’
His news was the signal for another round of toasts and congratulations. Then Prudence rose and led the ladies from the room, leaving the men to their port.
Sophie hesitated in the hall. ‘Prudence, will you excuse me for a moment?’ she asked. ‘I must look in on Kit. He is a restless sleeper. By now, his coverings will be thrown aside.’
She hurried up the staircase. Kit was settled in the dressing-room which adjoined her own bedchamber, and, to her relief, he appeared to be sound asleep. For once, his blankets were undisturbed.
As she bent to kiss him, a pair of chubby arms slipped about her neck. ‘I was pretending!’ he announced. ‘I like it here, Mama, don’t you?’
‘I do, my pet!’
‘I’m glad to hear it!’ A large hand rested lightly on her shoulder and Sophie turned to find Hatton by her side.
‘I was playing possum,’ Kit informed his friend.
‘What on earth is a possum?’ Sophie asked.
‘It is a small animal which lives in the colonies. Possums hide from danger, but they also sleep for hours and hours and hours, don’t they, Kit?’
‘I expect so.’ Obediently, Kit closed his eyes, but as Sophie and her lover left the room they heard a happy sigh. ‘I love Hatton,’ the small voice whispered. ‘Do you love him too?’
‘I do, my darling!’ Sophie lifted her face to look deep into the eyes of her betrothed. What she saw there convinced her of a love beyond her wildest dreams. With a little cry of happiness she melted into his arms.
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IMPRINT: Mills & Boon
ISBN: 9781489249616
TITLE: REGENCY ADMIRER: THE MERRY GENTLEMAN/THE GENTLEMAN’S DEMAND
First Australian Publication 2017
Copyright © 2017 Meg Alexander
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Regency Admirer/The Merry Gentleman/The Gentleman's Demand Page 47
