In answer to his question, Sophia nodded her head with a smile, a response that seemed to satisfy as Liam went back to what he was doing.
Sophia sat back down at her desk, picking up the ledger and scanning down the rows of numbers, but she wasn’t able to concentrate. For some reason, hearing that Liam was married had really affected her. The last week she had worked here, thinking that like her, everyone else was happy in their jobs. That they didn’t need anyone or anything else to make them happy. Clearly, she was wrong.
She’d told herself that married life was not for her, that she’d found her true calling, but now she wasn’t so sure. This job was everything she’d wanted, a place where she finally fit in. Yet, she knew she still wanted more. What she would have loved was to be happily married to a man that let her do as she pleased, even if it meant working at the docks. But she couldn’t have that.
For Sophia it was going to be one or the other. As that reality set in, she knew what she was doing now couldn’t possibly last forever. Soon she would be caught, and she would be forced to stop. What would last forever was her marriage. One which she had spent the last week ignoring, even more than Robert had the week before. Perhaps it was finally time to stop avoiding her other life, and start trying to fix it? Perhaps, it was time to finally find happiness in the place she knew she must. Home.
Chapter 15
It was early in the morning, just as the sun was rising, and Robert was already awake. He had made sure he would be. It had nothing to do with getting an early start on drinking, gaming, or anything similar. Oh no, he was up early as part of his plan.
He had experienced just about every emotion known to man over the previous four days, ever since he caught his wife lying to him. First he was confused. This was quickly superseded by anger, which was promptly followed by disbelief. There was even a moment there where he was impressed, both at the ease at which she had been lying to him and the ease in which she had adapted to a job which he knew was difficult.
By the time he went to bed that first night, he had settled on disappointment, both with himself and Sophia. It was an odd sensation, as he knew he shouldn’t be disappointed. By rights he should have settled on anger the moment it passed through him, but he couldn’t. Part of him knew that he had driven her to act as she had, and he couldn’t fault her for that.
But what was he to do about it? He knew that he would have to confront her eventually, there was no way she could continue to work at his business. Not because he didn’t want her working there either, but because it just wasn’t done. A woman of station didn’t work. Especially not at the docks around sailors and other scoundrels.
He was going to confront her, but how?
It took four days for him to come up with a plan. Four long and torturous days. Even then the plan only came to him on that fourth night when he heard his wife sneaking back home and sliding into bed beside him.
It would be a ruse. Perhaps the greatest that ever was. It was a plan that would hopefully help him save face, while highlighting that she had ultimately done the wrong thing, leaving him totally in the clear.
Robert just hoped it would work.
“Good morning, my lovely wife,” Robert beamed at Sophia as she strolled into the dining room that morning. He had chosen the greeting he had given her that first morning, as a means to catch her off guard. It worked. The moment she entered the dining room and spotted Robert, sitting there smiling at her, she tripped and nearly fell to the ground.
“Robert?” she stuttered as she grabbed at the doorway to balance herself. “What are you doing here?”
“I can’t eat breakfast in my own home?” he asked with a coy smile, taking a bite from a strip of bacon that sat precariously perched on his fork.
“Wha — no... I mean... what I meant to say was, I thought you had left already? Of course, you may eat here, and I am glad to see you... adoring husband.”
Sophia walked slowly toward the table, taking a seat opposite Robert. As she did, Robert noted with delight how put out she was to see him. As much as he hated to admit it, he was having a little too much fun torturing his wife.
“Another late night, last night?” Robert asked as Sophia took a sip from a glass of freshly squeezed juice. Her hand was shaking, and he could see her mind spinning as she tried to figure out what was going on.
“Yes, I was with Emma again. I lost track of time and then she asked me to stay for dinner and... I’m sorry, I should have sent word ahead. That’s twice now I’ve made that mistake.”
“Not at all,” Robert responded, keeping his eyes trained on her the entire time. “I’m just glad you’re finding ways to fill in your time.”
“I am.”
Robert eyed her after this response, sure he had seen a smirk hidden behind her eyes as she rattled off the lie. Oddly, this didn’t anger him in the slightest. Rather it made him want to chuckle. His wife really was something else.
“Anyway, the reason I’m still here is that I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, I’m going to take you for a tour of the docks today, so you can see where I work.”
That did it. No sooner had the suggestion left his tongue, than Sophia choked on her drink, coughing and sputtering as she struggled to regain her composure.
“Something wrong?” Robert asked simply, not bothering to help.
“Oh no I... I was going to go see Emma again today.”
“Again?”
“Yes. I told her I was... that I was going to make a start on our back garden and she suggested that I stop by and get some tips. You know how much she loves to garden.”
“I didn’t know that.” Robert knew the excuse wasn’t even close to being believable. It was Sophia who loved to garden, not Emma. Did she really think he knew his own wife so little?
“Well, she does. So, thank you, but I’m afraid I can’t make it today.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I pose that as a question?” He made sure to keep his tone light and conversational as he took a sip of his juice. “It wasn’t. You’re coming to the docks today, with me. Emma can wait until tomorrow.”
Sophia opened her mouth as if to argue, but then slowly closed it. She was a stubborn woman, and audacious compared to most other ladies of station, but even she knew not to argue with her husband. Some things just weren’t done, and that was one of them.
Robert watched his wife with a small smile on his face. He could see the wheels turning in her head as she tried desperately to come up with a way to get out of the fatal offer. After some time, she let out a sigh and dropped her head as if in defeat. She had lost, and she knew it.
Sophia’s day of reckoning had finally come.
Chapter 16
Sophia was sweating so much that she could feel the perspiration seeping through her blouse. She could also feel it forming on her brow and trickling down the back of her neck. She didn’t care. A sweaty and uncomfortable bodice was the least of her worries right now.
The reason she was sweating as she was, was the outfit she had chosen to wear. It was heavy, impractical and totally over the top, but it was also necessary. Once Robert had announced and demanded that she come to the docks with him, she knew the game was up. She was going to get caught as surely as the sun would rise the next day. Then she had a mad idea. What if she could stop the sun from rising? Or at the very least, convince everyone that it hadn’t?
Her plan was as simple as it was unlikely to work. Of all the workers at the docks, not a soul knew that she was Robert’s wife. As such, none would expect for a second that she would stroll into the office on his arm. All she had to do was hide her face from the workers and hope they didn’t recognize her... that was the key word here, hope. Hope was about all she had at the moment.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” Robert asked, raising an eyebrow at her as she exited the manor toward the carriage he had called for them.
“It is. Is something wrong with it?” she sh
ot back as she climbed into the carriage beside her husband.
“Not at all,” he replied with a smirk, his eyes working up and down her body one more time.
It was odd, but the way he looked at her, and the way he smiled and seemed to joke, suggested that he knew what she was up to. But that was impossible. More than impossible. If he knew, he wouldn’t be trying to trick her into getting caught. He would just confront her. It must have been her mind playing tricks.
Robert leaned to the front of the carriage, speaking to the driver. “The docks, thank you driver.” And they took off.
Sophia had done the best she could to cover her face. She wore a large, wide brimmed hat that sagged at the sides. As such it hung down, covering her cheeks and the back of her neck. To go with this, she wore a dress that had a high collar that she was able to fold over the front of her face, if she had her hands free. Furthermore, she had a scarf wrapped around her shoulders and neck and positioned it over her mouth and nose. Only her eyes were showing, and even this worried her.
Yes, Sophia looked ridiculous, but it was all she could do.
When the carriage pulled up at pier eight, and Robert offered Sophia his hand to step out, she had to stop herself for making straight for the office. It was a natural reaction that nearly gave the game away before it had begun.
“What a pretty boat,” she gushed, pointing across to the pier. The boat in question was a ship called The Ecuador. It was the smallest of Robert’s fleet, but also the fastest, used to make last minute deliveries.
“That one?” Robert asked, pointing right at The Ecuador. “It’s called The Spinster.”
Sophia opened her mouth to correct Robert, but quickly closed it. She would have looked more than a little suspicious if she knew the name of his ship and he didn’t. But didn’t he? How could he not? Again, Sophia was forced to consider that Robert knew what she had been up to. Again, she shook this off, dismissing it as preposterous.
“This way to my office.” Robert took Sophia by the arm, leading her in the direction of the office building she already knew like the back of her hand.
The docks were as busy as ever, but one wouldn’t realize it. Most days, Sophia had to fight to get through the throng of sailors as she made her way from the pier, down the way to the office. As she shoved and pushed, she would be subjected to a series of sneers, jeers and whistles. That was just how it was at the docks. Or so she thought.
Like the Red Sea, the tide of sailors and other workers parted for Robert and Sophia as they strolled toward the office. Many stopped to bow their heads, some said hello, but most looked away, as if even making eye contact with the company owner would condemn them. Sophia did her best to remain inconspicuous amongst all of this, but it was nearly impossible. Not only was she hanging off Robert’s arm, but the way she was dressed was ridiculous and made her stand out like a sore thumb.
When they reached the front door, Robert went to open it, only for the door to swing open, bringing the couple face to face with Liam.
“Boss!” Liam exclaimed at the sight of Robert. “What in the ruddy hell are ya doin’ here?!”
“Can’t I stop by my own company to see how things are going?” Robert said, stone faced.
“No, you can’t.”
The two men stared at each other. Sophia could feel the heat coming off them. She had no idea that the two hated each other so much and found it odd that Robert would keep Liam around if this were the case. But as this thought crossed her mind, Robert burst into laughter, soon followed by Liam. They pulled each other into a hug, and Sophia saw the greeting for what it was; a joke.
“Didn’t expect you this side of winter,” Liam said as he stepped aside, allowing for Robert and Sophia to enter the office.
“Usually you wouldn’t,” Robert responded. “But I wanted to give the wife a little look at where her bread and butter come from.”
“Too right.” Liam looked at Sophia for the first time, and she felt her heart stop. “My Lady,” he said, offering her a short bow of the head.
Sophia responded with a mini-curtsey, being careful not to speak.
To her relief, Liam inspected her for less than a second before turning to face his secretary, Brunhilda. “Broomy! Where the heck is Sophia? She was supposed to come in twenty minutes ago.”
“I haven’t heard,” Brunhilda responded. She was a German import, huge in both height and width. She was also married to the foreman, and as such was off limits to even the smallest of passes from fellow workers. Not that it mattered, Brunhilda was so large that she could easily take any man out back and break him over her knee if need be.
“Well send someone around to have a look will ya?” Liam continued. “The Ecuador is just sitting there. I know she has something’ planned, but hell if I can figure it out.”
“Sophia?” Robert asked curiously.
“Oh, pardon me,” Liam turned on his heel, his tone automatically softening as his eyes once again passed over Sophia. “I hired Sophia a week back. Damndest thing. She appeared literally out of thin air and now I can barely run the place without her. The brain on this one, especially for a woman.”
“Is that right?” Robert pressed.
“Right. She’s got the place running better than ever. Streamlined stocks, fixed up that issue we was having with excess exports and transport. Not to mention the way the men work when she’s around. As if any have a chance with her.” He chuckled at this, shaking his head. Sophia felt herself blush.
“She’s that good?” Robert asked. Oddly, the playfulness had left his voice. He sounded like he didn’t believe it. Or that he refused to.
“Too right.”
Robert didn’t respond right away. Instead he scrunched his face up, as if deep in thought. Sophia watched him, confused by his reaction to this news. He didn’t seem happy at the idea that someone was all but saving his company, and he didn’t seem angry either. More confused, as if he didn’t know how he should react.
Suddenly, Robert shook his head, snapping himself back into the moment. “Well, I came here to show my wife off and... and I’ve done just that. So, I suppose.... yes, I think it’s best if we go.”
Sophia could have kissed him. The whole thing was indeed in her head, and he had brought her here simply to show her his workplace. She need not have worried at all.
She felt his hand touch the small of her back as he turned her and led her back toward the door, the exit. Such was her excitement at surviving the moment, that Sophia all but ran for the door. In doing so, she tripped on her dress, stumbling forward. She had to reach out and grab onto the doorframe to keep herself from falling flat on her face. And that was that.
As she fell, her hands flailed, her hat went flying from her head, her scarf slipped down from her face and she was left totally exposed.
“Sophia!” Liam exclaimed the moment her face was visible. “What are ya doin’?!”
She could feel all eyes on her as she slowly turned around. The office had come to a standstill as Liam, Robert, and the secretaries all stared and gaped. Well at least Liam and the women did. Robert didn’t look in the least surprised. He simply sighed and cast his gaze downward.
What happened after that, Sophia hadn’t a clue. Without waiting for the tongue lashing she was sure to receive from her husband, she turned and fled the office without looking back.
Chapter 17
Sophia, open the door!” Robert bellowed. “Sophia! Open the door!” he tried again, to no avail.
He was standing outside the bedroom door. His bedroom door. It was closed and locked and had been since he’d arrived home. Whether Sophia was in there or not, he had no way of knowing, although if he were a betting man, he would put money on the fact that she was.
When he’d come home to find the room locked, he’d breathed a sigh of relief, just happy that she had made it home in one piece. Outing his wife at the docks had turned into much less entertaining of an excursion than he’d planned on. When he’d hear
d how well regarded she was, a sudden rush of guilt had overtaken him. He was forcefully depriving Sophia of something she enjoyed. Every indication pointed to her having found a sense of purpose there at the docks. Knowing his own struggles, how could he deprive her of that? He resolved to let her maintain her little secret, he would find another way to broach the topic when they got home. But it turned out fate was against them both when she stumbled. Once the ruse was up, Sophia fled before Robert had a chance to confront her. He’d run out after her, only to find the carriage gone, presumably with his wife in it.
He couldn’t blame her for taking flight the way she had, she probably thought he was about to explode with anger, as he had every right to. But if she’d waited, she might have discovered Robert wasn’t as angry as she believed.
True, he was angry with her for what she had done, and yes, she was going to have to be reprimanded. She had not only embarrassed him but brought disgrace to his name and company. That would have to be dealt with sooner rather than later. But there was more to the situation than Robert had originally foreseen.
Namely in how suited Sophia seemed to be in running his company. The way Liam had spoken, she was an angel sent from heaven to help put his company back on track. Robert had known Liam a long time, and knew he was not the kind to exaggerate. What he was going to do about this discovery was another matter. First, he would need to speak to her.
“Sophia! Please!” he yelled again through the door. “If we can just talk?!”
Nothing.
He let out a sigh, turned and made his way slowly down the stairs. It was going to be a long night, one he hoped he’d come out the other end of with an answer as to what to do. The excitement wasn’t quite over though. The moment he set his foot on the landing at the bottom of the stairs, Lord Trenworth came storming into the manor.
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