by Lucy Langton
“You needn’t thank me. It was the truth,” he replied.
As he was led away, Timothy felt a tremendous sadness in his heart. Sophia looked beautiful on that occasion, and it led him to think of all he had lost. Why had he behaved in the manner that he did? How was it that he managed to ruin his entire life? Timothy would have a great deal of time to think about those questions and so much more. One thing was for certain, he was quite convinced that he would never see his wife again.
Chapter 21
As Sophia bid her adieu to Lord Timothy, her heart felt heavy. He had not been much of a husband, but she couldn’t help but care for him as a person, the head of a family she deeply respected. She did not know what Timothy’s fate would be, but she was sure that freedom was finally upon her. Sophia didn’t know how to describe the feeling, but she thought it akin to what a bird might feel once released from a cage.
On all sides, people swirled around her, congratulating her, wishing to kiss her hand, and there was even a young girl who handed Sophia a flower. Looking down at the precious young girl, Sophia couldn’t help but think of herself at the very same age. How she was so filled with hope at that time, as though the world was an endless stream of possibilities. For a brief moment, she felt that youthful hope yet again.
Off in the distance, she could see Philip trying to push his way towards her, fighting a crowd that seemed to pull them asunder at each turn. Sophia, as well, tried to fight through the crowd, but to no avail.
“Come this way,” a guard said, seeing that Sophia was inundated. Sophia was pulled into a back room and the door was closed behind them. Finally, there was silence.
“I thank you,” Sophia said, seating herself in a chair.
“It was the least I could do,” the guard replied.
“If you don’t mind,” Sophia went on, “there is a friend of mine out there who was pushing through to see me.” Before Sophia could say more, the guard exited, no doubt trying to grant entry when Philip made his way to the door.
Scarce before Sophia could catch her breath the door opened again, only this time it was a face she was not familiar with.
“Good morning,” said the woman, an ermine-lined cape across her wide shoulders.
“Good morning,” Sophia replied, puzzled.
“You don’t know who I am.”
“I’m afraid that I do not.”
“My name is Lady Helena White. I’m an acquaintance of Lord Timothy’s.”
Lady Helena did not need to say more before Sophia realised that the woman standing before her was her husband’s mistress.
“You were so brave up there on the podium,” Lady Helena said.
“I did not feel brave. I was merely being honest,” Sophia replied, wondering why on earth Lady Helena was standing before her.
“Your honesty showed through.”
“May I ask why you are here?” Sophia said.
“That’s a marvellous question,” Lady Helena replied, slinking into a chair. “I suppose I’m wondering that myself.”
“You’re my husband’s mistress, are you not?”
There was a look of surprise on Lady Helena’s face. “How did you know that?”
“I had a strong feeling about it from the moment that you stepped through the door.”
“Lord Timothy and I have been engaged in an inappropriate relationship for some time, I’m afraid.”
“Are you here to apologise?” Sophia asked, more curious than upset. Considering that she and Timothy didn’t have much of a relationship, and wouldn’t have one in the future, it gave Sophia freedom to be curious instead of furious.
“Yes, I suppose that I am,” Lady Helena replied.
“Did you love my husband?”
Lady Helena took a moment to consider her words. “I fear that I did.”
“It’s funny how things end up, is it not? Perhaps you were meant for him all along.”
“Lady Sophia, I love my husband, and I only wish to be with him. But I think something about the secret nature of our relationship added an element of . . . excitement.”
“That is often the case.”
“But looking back on things, and seeing you up there on that platform, helped me to finally realise how much our actions affect others. I hope that I have not hurt you indirectly in any way.”
“Your actions have hurt me, Lady Helena,” Sophia replied with utter honesty. “But that was the past. I think we can agree that moving forward is best.”
“Then can you forgive me?” Lady Helena asked, expectation in her eyes. There was a brief moment of silence as Sophia considered her words and Lady Helena continued. “It would mean a great deal to me. Moving forward.”
“I forgive you, Lady Helena.” Lady Helena heaved a sigh of relief. “But promise me one thing,” Sophia went on.
“Anything,” Lady Helena replied.
“If your husband is good to you, then be good to him. For the rest of your days.”
Tears came to Lady Helena’s eyes, and she stood from her seat walking towards the door. “I shall,” she replied, then bowed her head and exited the room.
Life kept baffling Sophia more and more. How was it that all in one day she was freed and felt the marvellous power of forgiveness flowing through her? Although Sophia felt light as a bird, her future was still unknown. Everything that had been set in stone, her very fate, had been utterly crushed to pieces in one day. What would become of her? Where would she go, and who would she become? All those questions and so many more were teeming in her head.
“There is another visitor,” the guard said, poking his head around the door. Sophia’s heart began to pound as she realised it was no doubt Philip.
“See them in,” Sophia replied.
Sure enough, Philip came through the door quite forcefully, as though he had been held by the guard that entire time. Philip embraced her at once, taking Sophia into his strong arms and holding her tight. He was crushing her so forcefully that she feared she could not breathe.
“You’re trying to strangle me,” Sophia said humorously.
“Yes,” Philip replied warmly, burying his head in her neck. “Did I not tell you that all would be well?”
“You did. And I didn’t believe you.”
“You mustn’t ever do that again.”
“Never.”
They held each other for a moment before Sophia pulled away and looked into Philip’s tearful green eyes.
“You would not believe who came in just now,” she said, her eyes wide with wonder.
“Who?”
“Timothy’s mistress. Lady Helena White.”
Philip stood there in stunned silence, unsure what to say. “You jest.”
“I do not. She was here just moments ago, begging for my forgiveness.”
“Did you grant it?”
“Of course I did. Although Timothy is my husband – was my husband? – I truly never felt like his wife. The injury that Lady Helena caused feels distant at best.”
“You are a noble lady,” Philip said affectionately, bringing a hand to her cheek.
“I merely wish to have all of this behind us.”
“Us?” Philip asked.
“Well . . . all of us.”
“No, I was referring to us. You and I.”
Sophia paused, considering her words carefully. Of all the questions going through her head, this one was the most important of all.
“Will there be an us? I very much hope that there will be,” Sophia replied.
Philip leaned down and placed his lips upon hers, gently but hungrily. Sophia felt herself moan. When Philip had come to her in her jail cell, it was one of the finest evenings of her life. Merely lying there with him behind her, kissing from time to time. And even though each time he placed his lips upon hers her heart was set on fire, Sophia had to admit that the underlying frustration of not going further was always there.
Before being placed in the Tower of London, Sophia’s dreams and fantasi
es about Philip were salacious, scandalous and delicious, all at the same time. Although one might think being thrown in the Tower of London would dampen one’s longing, it did not for Sophia. She would still dream of Philip at night, but the nature of the dreams were altered. She imagined she and Philip out in the country, in a home of their own, tending to the day’s affairs, kissing one another whenever they passed down the hall, enjoying a warm, simple supper at night and retiring to bed where they could fully express their love.
These domestic notions of Philip helped to get Sophia through the long, cold nights in her cell, wondering what her fate might be. She could not tell Philip any of that, of course. It would be far too embarrassing to tell him of her dreams. But she had already admitted to him in words that she wished he had been her husband, and she his wife.
“There will be an us,” Philip said with assurance.
“We still do not know what the future holds.”
“It holds us. Whatever you want, I will give you.”
Sophia felt her heart soar and a flush come to her cheek. She looked away, thinking the intensity of her joy too great.
“And what of your brother?”
“What of him?” Philip asked.
“What will be his fate?”
“Come here,” Philip said, seating himself in a chair and pulling Sophia onto his lap. “You’ve had a long day,” he added with a boyish grin.
“But this is terribly serious, Philip,” Sophia replied.
“Another court will meet to secure my brother’s fate.”
“Do you not feel scared? Or even a little sad?” she asked, thinking it strange that Philip was showing no emotion whatsoever.
“I am all of those things and more. But you must understand, Sophia, my brother has been this way for all his life. I’ve been preparing for this tragedy for decades. He was always lying, always cheating. I know that deep down Timothy is a decent chap, but he has never been an upstanding citizen in any regard.”
“I see,” Sophia replied, frowning.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to be ungentlemanly and remove you from my lap, Sophia,” Philip said, picking her up and pulling her over to another chair.
“What is the matter?” Sophia asked.
Philip gave her a very serious look. “I’m unable to explain.”
Sophia began to blush a deep, red hue. He did not need to explain the reason why sitting on his lap in that moment would prove unfruitful. A sharp, immediate desire coursed through her, which Sophia wished to dismiss.
“What shall we do now?” Sophia asked, her heart beginning to beat in her chest. Yes, it was now only Sophia and Philip. That very night, and every following night. A mixture of anticipation and fear came over her. Fear for the unknown.
“We will go back to the townhouse this evening. Then preparations will be made to return to Willow Grange.”
“The estate will be so empty,” Sophia replied.
“Yes,” Philip replied with a little grin, picking up on the double-meaning of Sophia’s statement.
“I’m afraid that I need some air,” Sophia said, getting up from her seat and walking towards the window, pushing it open ever so slightly. A cool breeze came upon her face, and Sophia took a large breath. It had been so dank in her cell. She would never take fresh air for granted again.
Sophia heard Philip get up from his chair and join her, pushing his chest against her back as she faced the window. He wrapped his arm around her, placing a hand on her stomach, pulling her into him.
“And to think, but moments ago you didn’t want me on your lap,” Sophia said.
“I’m having a little difficultly controlling myself,” Philip replied, bringing his mouth to her neck.
“Please,” Sophia said with a moan.
“Please, yes, or please, no?” Philip said with a smile.
“I’m not sure. I can’t think,” Sophia said, her eyes closed, head tilted back.
There was a sound at the door, and Sophia and Philip quickly pulled away from one another. The next guest to enter would certainly be the most shocking of all.
The prince regent was much shorter than Sophia ever thought he would be. That being said, his hair stood up so high that it made him appear taller than he really was. He was surrounded by guards on either side, and once he entered the room, the door behind him was closed and locked.
Both Philip and Sophia proceeded to bow deeply before the prince spoke.
“No need,” he said to them, motioning for them to stand up straight again.
“Your Highness,” Philip said.
“Be seated,” he commanded them, and Sophia and Philip sat. One of the guards pulled out a chair for the prince, and he threw back his robes to seat himself.
“This is an honour,” Sophia managed to say, although she wasn’t quite sure how she was able to form the words, it was such a state of shock that she was in.
“I’m afraid that I’m here not so much to honour you but, rather, to talk about the repercussions of your husband’s actions.”
“Yes,” Sophia replied plainly, thinking that the fewer words she used the better.
“The Duke of Clumber’s transgressions have vexed me for some time. It took a great deal of investigation to discover where the leak was coming from, but once we knew, justice was swift. I wish to inform you that, even though you were not found guilty in these affairs, there’s still a price to pay.”
“If I may be so bold,” Philip began to say.
The prince merely put up his hand to silence him. “Do not be bold,” he instructed.
“Very well,” Philip replied.
As the prince continued to speak, Philip reached over and took Sophia’s hand in his own.
“Lady, you have married a traitor, and I’m instructed that it was not of your own volition, which I’m sympathetic to,” the prince went on. “I’m also informed that with your honesty you have proved yourself a patriot, which I’m also sympathetic to.”
“I do love this country, Your Highness,” Sophia said.
“I take great pleasure in hearing you say that.”
“And if I may say so in your honourable presence,” Sophia went on, “I wish to remain in your country.”
“That is something to be discussed. I have the mind to remove your title and disband the Clumber estate,” the prince said.
Sophia felt her heart lurch in her chest. It was absolutely the last thing in the world that she would want. “But I must protest,” she began to say.
Once again, the prince lifted a hand to stop her. “Do not protest. I’m inclined to disband the Clumber name till the end of time. Can you imagine, a Britain where the Clumber line persists after such perilous treachery? I cannot imagine such a thing, nor do I wish to go down in history as the monarch that allowed it.”
“Nor should you be,” Philip replied.
