by Em Taylor
“Yes milord. Of course, milord.”
“Good girl.” He moved out of the way and she curtseyed and hurried past him.
“You really do have all the females at your beck and call,” Sophia marvelled.
“She’s just well-trained.”
Sophia snorted. “That’s Bella. The most sullen maid on God’s green earth.”
Jason merely shrugged and gestured for her to precede him into the house, since the staff would know her and not be shocked at a stranger wandering into their master’s home.
She said good afternoon to the staff she knew, including the cook and none of them said anything. There were a few raised eyebrows that she was sneaking a gentleman in through the kitchen. She did think once they had reached the hallway, that perhaps she should have mentioned that some staff would be arriving with the baby, but they knew she had a baby so once they had gotten over the shock of her actually being alive, she supposed a retinue of staff with a baby would not be altogether unusual.
When she arrived in the hallway of the main floor, Gideon was scowling.
“You looked tumbled.”
“Firstly, brother, it is none of your business and secondly, I have not been tumbled. I have not been in my own home or had my own clothes for weeks. I am thoroughly vexed and thoroughly in need of a bath, my own clothes and a long sleep. When I arrived at Lord Whitsnow’s I was frightened, I had a baby who was teething, grumpy and downright fractious. I was at the end of my tether. And despite the fact for the last two weeks we have almost constantly been on the road, except for a short stop at Ashgate estate and an enforced rest at an inn due to my maid and my protector being shot, I think my hair, my clothing and my demeanor have stood up well. I may not quite be ready for a visit to Almack’s, my lord but I will not have you constantly berating my fiancé for being tender and kind to me.”
As she stamped her foot on the tile flooring to make her point, she cared not that tears were rolling down her cheeks. Somehow the enormity of everything she had gone through over the past weeks had rolled over her like a huge wave. She had never felt such a huge force of emotion.
“Oh Soph! I am sorry.” And then she was in her brother’s embrace, her tears wetting his waistcoat as he tugged off her bonnet and ran his hand over her hair. “Oh Poppet, please, stop crying. It breaks my heart that I have caused this. I… I can do better. I am such a brute at times.”
“Oh Gideon, it is not just you. It is everything. It is you, and Jason and Octavius and Oscar and Mr Benson and the journey and the ton and the wedding.”
“What did he do to you?”
“Who?”
“Reid.”
“Reid?”
“Jason.”
“N-nothing…” her sobs started again. Gideon let out a growl of frustration. “Emily, Take Rosie to the drawing room and call for tea. I shall take my sister to the library and get some sense out of her.”
“As you wish. Come, my lord. Sophia shall be fine. Gideon is not the monster he is currently portraying himself to be. This entire episode has been rather vexing for us all.”
“I agree,” she heard Jason say as he left her to her brother’s tender mercies. Gideon led her into the library and deposited her on a seat.
“Now Sophia, I agree that I could have handled things with a little more sensitively. But what the devil did Reid do to you?”
“Nothing. At least nothing that I did not wish him to.” She wiped the back of her hand across her nose. “Oh Gideon, I have no handkerchief. I have been using Jason’s sister’s clothing and the maids were so kind when my courses came and I did not have the heart to ask for handkerchiefs and reticules and other silly things.”
He fished in his pocket, looking a little discomfited by her brazen discussion of womanly functions. He handed her a handkerchief and she blew her nose.
“So what did you mean about you being upset about Reid?”
Sophia sighed and sat back in the big, high-backed chair. The library still smelled faintly of her father’s tobacco and the heavy curtains and dark wood made the place look foreboding and rather unwelcoming, but she had fond memories of sitting on the older man’s knee, as he read stories of pirates and islands where treasure could be found to her.
“It is not he who has upset me. Not him personally. Just that our time together has shown me that my marriage was, well, it was much worse than I thought it was.”
“In what way?”
She felt heat flood her cheeks but she carried on. “Do you remember about six months into my marriage, I came to you to seek your advice about sex?”
“Good God, Sophia.”
“Yes, that was exactly how you reacted then too. I found it extremely uncomfortable. Sometimes quite painful but I assumed that was the way of things. And now that I have been intimate with Jason, I know that is not how it should be. Gideon, you should have listened to me. There are things I could have done to help myself. To perhaps even help him with some guidance. He did not know what he was doing.”
“How can a gentleman not know what he was doing in the bedchamber, Sophia?”
“Well, I cannot say but he only ever took me from behind, like a molly does.”
“What the hell do you know of mollies?”
“I know enough. Stop treating me like a child, Gideon, and address the point. At least promise me if anything happens to Emily and you have a daughter that comes to you with a similar problem, if you are too embarrassed to deal with the issue, at least send her to her Aunt Sophia.”
“Do you think Rutherford was a molly?”
She shrugged. “Jason thinks it a possibility, but he also thinks he may have not been able to do the deed because he was old. Apparently that can happen. In all honestly, I do not care now. I was upset because so much has vexed me over the past month or so. Other than Mr Benson who should be shot at dawn, no one caused me to become upset today. And please stop scowling at Jason. He has not taken the virginity of your innocent sister. He loves me and plans to marry me. Be happy for me Gideon. He is a good man. He loves Oscar and has already promised to be a good father to him. I even asked if Oscar could call him Papa like the children we will have together shall call him and he said he would be honoured.”
“And the Rutherford estate?”
“You are Oscar’s guardian and the trustee of the estate. We would like to take Oscar there so he will know the staff and so he can learn as he grows what the area needs.”
“I have no objections to that. But Soph, do you not think you are rushing into this marriage?”
“You mean the way you waited months to marry Emily?”
“That was different. We had exceptional circumstances.”
“Yes well, Jason and I have… forgotten to be careful and there may be consequences. If I am to have his child, I would prefer there to be as close to nine months between the wedding and the birth as possible.”
“I shall kill him.”
“No, you shall not. I made the decision with him once we decided to wed. It shall happen anyway.”
“Why are we discussing your bed chamber habits?”
“Because you insist on poking your nose in to find out why I am marrying the nicest gentleman I have ever met.”
“What about me?”
“You vex me terribly.”
“Does he not vex you?”
“Yes, sometimes. But I love him.”
“You do not love me?”
“Of course I do. But in a different way. I hope you love me in a brotherly way or I should have to call you Lord Byron.”
“What do you know of George Byron?”
“Everything.”
“Reid?”
“I asked and he told me. And you cannot say anything, Gideon. Emily told me that you told her why Byron is in exile.”
“Did you ask Rutherford?”
“I did but he didn’t answer. I believe he was embarrassed. Given what I know now, perhaps that is not so strange.”
�
��Perhaps not. I do promise that if any daughter does ask awkward questions, I shall send her to her Mama or her aunt. Are you satisfied?”
“For now.”
“Let us join your fiancé and my wife for tea then. I fear Reid may be having an apoplexy over what we may be discussing. He probably thinks I am talking you out of marrying the poor fellow.”
“Be nice to him, Gideon.”
“I can see you love him, Soph. That is good enough for me.”
Chapter 19
Jason led Sophia up the short path to the door of the Duke and Duchess of Kirkbourne’s townhouse the next evening. He did not really know the Duke though he had seen him in White’s Gentleman’s club. Until he had married the pretty but crippled Lady Sarah Steele, he had been a rather dour chap, but now he always had a spring in his step and a much more pleasant demeanour.
Even through his greatcoat and other thick clothing, he felt Sophia’s fingers tighten as they lay atop his arm.
“All will be well,” he whispered.
“I do hope so,” she whispered back. And they were following Lord and Lady Beattie into the house.
The Duke and Duchess were at the entrance to the drawing room, meeting visitors. The footman announced them as they handed their invitations to him.
“Lord Jason Rose-Reid. Lady Rutherford.”
“Why did you ask him to say your given name?”
“They may have thought me my younger brother since he would now be Lord Rose-Reid instead of Lord Jerome.”
“Oh, of course.”
“Lord Rose-Reid, welcome to our home,” the pretty Duchess said from her chair. He crouched low to meet her gaze and bow appropriately over her hand.
“The pleasure is all mine, Duchess.” She chuckled quietly then looked up at Sophia.
“He is very handsome Lady Rutherford. You were very lucky that he happened to be at Lord Whitsnow’s estate.”
“Indeed I was Your Grace. It is lovely to see you again.” Sophia curtseyed and the Duchess bowed her head graciously in reply.
“Reid, now you have stopped flirting with my wife, I hear you have business with Mr Benson tonight. He is standing over there, rather ashen-faced if I may say so.” He nodded in the direction of the fireplace and as he had said, a young pock-marked man with a nose which was far too big for his face stood with his mouth wide open.
“Good Evening, Your Grace,” Sophia said. “May I see Mr Benson?”
“Of course.” He stepped back. “Good news Mr Benson. It seems the dead bodies you saw in the road were not your relatives and Lord Rose-Reid.”
“It is interesting that we too were shot at though,” said Jason walking farther into the room, knowing that Sophia was behind him. “Lady Rutherford’s lady’s maid was shot in the back and a lead ball grazed my arm. It hurt like the very devil and bled badly but it is healing well. Lady Rutherford’s maid is very lucky to be alive. Had that lead ball entered her a quarter of an inch either direction, she would be dead.”
“I cannot believe you were shot on the same road as I saw that couple shot in cold blood. Oh, how terrible.”
“Come, Benson, you are not trying to tell us you were not in the carriage of men who shot at us.”
“Me?” Benson looked astounded. He really should be on the stage at Drury Lane. “My lord, how could you suggest such an awful thing?”
“Mr Benson, you have been trying to kill me and my son since he drew breath and you found out he was a boy and would claim his father’s title. Because you want that title for yourself. You chased me out of London and from the Rutherford Estate. I then had to leave Lord Whitsnow’s estate with Lord Rose-Reid as my protector and even then we were not safe. You want Oscar dead so you shall become the Viscount.”
“Lady Rutherford, this is preposterous. Beattie, you should have your sister admitted to Bedlam. She is clearly suffering from the recent loss of my uncle or from some… malady that ladies suffer from after their confinement. Now control yourself, my lady or I shall ask the Duke to remove you.”
Jason laid a hand on Sophia’s shoulders. He had been looking at the other occupants of the room as their exchange had gone on. No one believed Sophia. No one believed him. It was odd, because Benson was not a peer and was not heir to a peerage unless Oscar died.
“Come sit down with the Duchess and have a cup of tea. We shall not be forced to leave.” He kept his voice low so only she could hear. Emily came to her and drew her to a seat. The men drew into a circle and Beattie, the Duke and he watched the ladies. Sophia, to give her credit remained stoic and as the next hour passed, Jason began to relax.
∞ ∞ ∞
Sophia was reeling from her encounter with Mr Benson. She had always known he was a scoundrel, but had not realised that he was an accomplished liar. She had almost believed him herself. But for the fear that he instilled in her every time she glanced at him. A couple of times she had caught his gaze and the look he had given her was less than friendly.
Jason must have gone into the library for a few minutes with the men, but she was really quite desperate to visit the necessary and could not interrupt him to go home. She spoke quietly to the Duchess who directed her to the correct place with a smile.
“Would you like me to send a maid with you?”
“Oh no. I am sure I shall be fine.”
The Duchess had looked unsure, but surely Mr Benson would not try anything in a crowded house.
After visiting the necessary, she was walking past an open door when Mr Benson appeared out of it.
“The Duchess has a beautiful harpsichord. Would you like to see it?”
“Um, no. No thank you. I am not particularly musical.”
“That is a shame,” he said. “It is quite beautiful. Just like you, Aunt Sophia.” He raised his hand and ran the back if his fingers down her cheek. She tried to step back, but he caught her by the wrist with his free hand. “You know, Uncle Octavius spoke to me the week before he died. He had a plan for the estate should he die before he had managed to get you with child. He feared he was barren and you may be blamed for the lack of children and therefore no one would want you. His idea was for you and me to marry and carry on the line between us. That would ensure your comfort. Even though you have had Oscar, I see no reason not to carry out his wishes. I could be his guardian. We could run the estate together.”
“But you could never be Viscount and my brother is his trustee and guardian.”
“That could be transferred.”
“No, it could not. Legally it has to be someone not in line to the title. While Oscar lives, you are the heir presumptive—at least until he has his own son.”
“You are insistent on making things difficult, are you not, you arrogant little lightskirt?”
“How dare you? You know very little of me.”
“I know you lifted your skirts within a day of arriving at Whitsnow’s. I saw you and Reid in the stable. It was disgusting. Riding his thigh in a wanton fashion.”
“You watched us. You knew I was there?”
“Of course I did. I followed you when you escaped Rutherford estate. Your horse left a trail in the snow and once in the forest, in the mud. I watched as you lay in the snow, hoping you would both just expire. Then Reid found you and rescued you. Damned interfering busybody.”
“So you admit you wanted me and Oscar dead.”
Benson glanced around, checking no one was in the area. “If you do not marry me, it will still happen. If you do marry me, I may still allow your son to live if we can come to an agreement. Think about it Sophia. We could be good together. You are quite pretty.” He leaned forward and leered down her gown at her décolletage. “I do like a lady with a decent bosom. Hmm, you could inspire a cockstand in anyone. Till later. I shall call for your answer tomorrow.”
Then he disappeared into the library.
Sophia moved on shaky legs and sat with the Duchess again.
“You look a little unwell, my lady. Should I send someone to fetch
Lord Rose-Reid or your brother?” asked the red-haired wife of the Duke.
“No, please do not concern yourself, Your Grace. I had a rather unpleasant encounter with Mr Benson.”
“Oh my. Please, let me fetch the men.”
“Oh, no. Please it would only cause more problems and you saw what happened earlier. The last thing I need is for the men to start slapping gloves in each other’s faces.
“Ah, yes. You would not want your husband to be to end up in Newgate, I suppose. Please, call me Sarah. I feel like we could become fast friends. Your sister-in-law calls me my given name, as does the new Duchess of Hartsmere.”
“That is the Countess of Cindermaine’s new title, is it not?”
“Yes. She was supposed to marry Cindermaine’s brother but there was a big scandal because Gabriel, I mean Cindermaine was pretending to be his half-brother Cedric all through the Christmas season. Eventually she found out, but they had fallen in love and Gabriel did not want her to marry Cedric, who is a brute.”
“Oh I did hear a little about it from Emily.”
“I shall invite you for tea when she is here and we can tell you all about it. She is terribly sweet for an American.”
“I would enjoy that.”
They talked for a short while about the goings-on in Mayfair since Sophia had fled town, until eventually the men came out of the library smelling faintly of tobacco and port.
“Is Mr Benson not with you?” she asked Jason.
“Benson? No I haven’t seen him since I went into the library. Is he not here?”
“No. He proposed marriage to me but when I declined he turned rather unpleasant. I thought he had joined the gentlemen in the library.”
“He must have left,” said the Duke. “Perhaps he has just gone home.”
“Perhaps but I would rather return to Lord Beattie’s townhouse and check on Oscar just in case.”
Sophia sprang to her feet, a coldness settling in her belly.
“You do not think…”
“I do not know. Probably not, my love but we should check. Come.”
“Should I come…” began the Duke.
“No. Look after your guests. Best not to cause more gossip if this is a false alarm.”
