It bothered him that he had admitted his feelings for her but she had said nothing. It said a great deal that she'd let him into her bed, but that wasn't as binding as a betrothal. Ian knew he still had some hurdles to jump with her. It was these thoughts that had distracted him into missing all but one of the birds. Bateman had crowed over his lack of ability with shooting, making the morning even more of a trial to endure.
Finally they were back at the Lodge, and all Ian wanted to do was find Sophia and finish settling things between them. He dismounted his horse and handed the reins to the stable boy.
Bateman approached with a determined stride. “A word, McDonald.”
Ian noticed that Nathaniel had already made his way to the house. Probably just as well, given the harshness of Bateman's voice. “Of course.”
“Is it too much to ask for you to actually pay me the respect I deserve?”
“Come, Bateman, do you really want me to answer that question?”
Bateman shook his head. “I have to ask once more if you've given any thought to marrying my sister.”
Ian covered his shock by leaning against the side of the stable. This was not what he'd thought Bateman wanted to discuss. “I respectfully decline your kind offer.”
“Why”
“Lady Catherine and I do not suit.”
“So you'd doom Catherine to a life of drudgery?”
“I believe that would be your doing, not mine, Bateman.” The man was outrageous to blame his sister's lack of suitors on him.
“By the by, I know of your plans to help Miss Hamilton to escape my clutches.”
“What plans would those be?”
Bateman sneered. “To help her elope with her poor captain. Yes, I know all about her feelings for Captain Smith-Williams. Giving him a position isn't going to change anything.”
“I have never understood this need to assume that the world operates at your leave. I didn't give Smith-Williams the position to thwart your plans to marry Miss Hamilton. I needed a man of his caliber and he needed work.”
“Do not interfere with my marriage to Miss Hamilton. You will not like the consequences.”
“More threats, Bateman?” Ian chuckled. “After all these years, haven't you realized that threats don't work with me?”
“Mind my words, McDonald.”
Bateman stomped off toward the house. Ian watched him until he disappeared. He'd have to tweak his plans to get Miss Hamilton out of the house now. Bateman would be on his guard. Sophia would have to tell Miss Hamilton to be more cautious with Lord Bateman. Ian couldn't risk giving her the message himself with Bateman suspicious.
He pushed away from the wall to return to the house. He wanted to find Sophia, kiss her senseless, then propose again when they weren't so distracted by passion. Of course, if he kissed her, he'd be lost again. He glanced up to see one of the younger grooms leading a horse with a side saddle back to the stable. Something bottomed out in the pit of his stomach.
“Whose horse is that?”
The young man answered, “Miss Townsend's. Found the horse in the rear pasture grazing.”
Panic rose in him as he saw the way the saddle sat on the horse. It had slipped. “Where is Miss Townsend?”
The young man shrugged. The stable master came up beside him. “The other young ladies came back several hours ago, stating that Miss Townsend wanted to ride a bit longer. She typically does this.” He reached out for the reins of the horse and inspected the saddle. “Looks like something gave on the saddle.”
“So she was thrown?”
“Can't really say, sir. From the looks of the saddle, she might have been. Miss Townsend is a right good horsewoman. She might just be walking back.”
Ian knew in the pit of his stomach that something was very wrong. He pulled the reins of his own steed from the stable boy's hands. “Do you know in which direction they rode?”
“She was going to take the young ladies down by the river. I warned her it would be muddy and wild.”
Ian mounted his horse. “See what you can find out about that saddle and what gave way. I'll search for her.”
“You want me to send someone with you?”
“No, but if Miss Townsend comes back, please send someone out for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ian rode off in the same direction Sophia had taken earlier that day. He'd traveled down the lane and into the wide open green spaces by the river looking for any hint that she might have gone in this direction. Fear choked him. She could be dead. She could be lying anywhere, hurt and alone. What had possessed her to ride off by herself when the ladies returned to the house?
Blue netting rustled in the breeze just ahead of him. Ian stopped the horse and dismounted. It was Sophia's hat. The netting had caught on the tall grass. He picked up the hat and looked around. “Sophia?” His voice echoed in the hollow. He trailed the reins in his hands as he searched. “Sophia!”
“Ian?”
Ian heard her voice just ahead of him. He picked through the tall grass toward a stand of trees. She sat in the deep grass against a tree. “Sweetheart, are you all right?”
“I'm fine, I think. Just battered. Did Lady Catherine send you?”
“No. She is at the Lodge. Was she supposed to?”
Sophia leaned her head back and closed her eyes in pain. “I don't know.”
“Where are you hurt?” He knelt beside her. “Did you break anything?”
She shook her head, then groaned. “I hit my head pretty hard, knocked the breath out of me, but I don't think anything is broken.”
“Have you tried to stand?”
“Too dizzy.”
“You could have been killed.”
“Something snapped on the saddle. I felt it give and was able to slow the horse down before I fell.” She closed her eyes again. “Can I go home now?”
“Of course, love.” Ian's hands shook as he brushed the hair from her face. “Let me help you stand.”
He placed his hands underneath her arms and lifted her against him. She gripped his shoulders and stood still, white as a sheet. “Dizzy?”
“Not as bad as it was earlier.”
“Do you want to try to walk a bit? Or I can bring the horse to you.”
“Let me walk. It will ease the stiffness. I think I'm going to be covered in bruises.”
“If that's the worst of it, be thankful. How long have you been here?”
“I have no idea. I was waiting for someone to come.”
“I'm beginning to think you are prone to accidents. First the incident in the pasture, then the arrow, and now this.” He had to clear his voice twice before he could get the words out.
“All of which can be attributed to you, sir. Perhaps it's the fairies getting their revenge.”
Ian pressed his mouth to her hand. “A much more romantic thought than blaming me. Now let's get you home.”
They walked slowly to the horse he'd left grazing as he rushed to her. He held the reins. “Let me lift you up. Sit astride the horse and I'll mount behind you. Hold on to the pommel if you feel dizzy.”
“I'm covered in mud. Why didn't you tell me?”
“Be thankful for the mud. It probably kept you from breaking something. Here we go.” He lifted her to the horse and settled her in the saddle. Her skirts bunched up, revealing her slim legs to the knee. He mounted behind her, a difficult task as the horse didn't care to have two people riding him. Ian took the reins and turned the horse around to return to the Lodge. “What possessed you to go riding alone like that?”
“I usually ride alone.”
Ian noted the coolness in her tone. “You could have been killed.”
“As if you would care.”
Ian wished he could turn her around, see her face. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Lady Catherine told me all about your upcoming marriage to her. After all the time you spent lecturing me on marrying for material things, you go and marry her for a piece of land.”
“I am not marrying Catherine.”
“She then proceeded to tell me about your father, steward to her father.”
“You knew that.” He should have told Sophia about that himself, but damn it, he'd wanted her to like him for who he was today, not for who his father had been. “Does that really matter?”
Sophia stiffened against him. “I would have rather heard it from you.”
He knew there was more. “What else did she say?”
“She was rambling on about land and revenge. I've always suspected the animosity between you and Bateman but never knew why. Were you envious of him and his title? Of his position?”
“I never envied Bateman. His father would use me as an example to his son. âWhy can't you be more like Ian?' Bateman hated it and he hated me.” Ian could still hear the taunts in his head. Taunts about his parents, his birth, and how unworthy he was to have the gifts the earl provided.
“So helping Miss Hamilton is a way for you to get back at Lord Bateman? Ruin him?”
“It won't ruin him; he'll find some other poor, unsuspecting young heiress to marry.”
“You admit this.”
“Of course. You mentioned the word
revenge
. I don't see it as revenge. I'm doing very little to hurt Bateman. If I'd wanted revenge, I could have ruined him years ago.”
“For what? Revenge because of some schoolboy taunts? I don't understand you.”
“You are making more of this than you should.”
Sophia didn't speak. He had thought perhaps she was done with the topic, but at last she said, “We are all just players on a chessboard to you.”
The sadness in her voice tore at his heart. “That's not true, Sophia.”
“What piece am I? Let me guess: depriving Lord Bateman of another conquest.”
“Sophia, you do not understandâ” Ian struggled for the right words to say to her but couldn't find them. He could feel her slipping away from him and was desperate to stop it.
“I think I finally understand, all too well.”
Ian gave in to the anger that bubbled inside him like lava. She had no idea what she was talking about. Nor did she realize she had already sealed her fate.
“I have one more question, sir.”
They were back to being formal again. “What is it?”
“Was making love to me last night part of your grand plan? Ensure by any means necessary that I would have no chance to marry Bateman, or any other man, for that matter?”
Her words were the last straw. “Do you actually believe I'm capable of manipulating you in that manner? Good God, I told you I loved you!”
“Men utter those words all the time when they want something from a lady.”
“This man doesn't.” He halted the horse, fairly vibrating with anger. She had called into question his very honor. “We will be married, Sophia. It's too late to go back on that now.”
“No. We will not.”
“What if you're with child?”
Sophia laughed, a hollow sound. “Even I know it doesn't always happen the first time. Look at my sisters.”
“I'll go to Matthews. He'll make you marry me.”
“Go right ahead, Mr. McDonald,” she said snidely. “I doubt it will work any better for you than it did for him and my sister.”
Chapter 21
S
ophia felt Ian nudge the horse to move again. She wanted to cry, not because of how badly she ached from her fall but from Ian's betrayal. She'd been so careful all these years to hold men at a distance. She knew firsthand how badly they could use a woman, but she had let him in. Let him into her heart and her bed. She was such a stupid fool.
It was better to focus on why her saddle had given way. She always checked the saddle before getting on her horse, but today she hadn't. She'd let Lady Catherine ask the groom to saddle her horse while she talked with Theo. She stiffened in shock. Great God, could Catherine be behind this? For what purpose?
They reached the stables in just a few minutes. It surprised her how close she'd been to home. She let the stable master lift her down from the saddle and settled her skirts around her. “Has my mare returned?”
“Yes, ma'am.” The stable master looked at Ian, who had also dismounted. “You were right, sir. The strap that runs underneath the horse had been cut with a knife just enough to make it give way with pressure.”
“Someone did this on purpose?” Suspecting that someone wanted her hurt was one thing; confirmation was something different. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, ma'am. The cut is clean and there was a knife near the stall where the horse was kept.”
Sophia looked up at Ian. “It was Lady Catherine.”
“Sophia, you cannot go about accusing people without cause.”
“She had opportunity. She went into the stables while I was talking to Theo.”
The young groom spoke up. “The lady is right, sir. I found Lady Catherine in the stable by Miss Townsend's saddle.”
“Did you see her with the knife?”
“No, sir. I found it later, in the hay.”
“There. Is that not proof?” Sophia said.
“Sophia, we cannot go accusing Lady Catherine of sabotaging your saddle.” Ian turned to the stable master. “Please set the saddle aside for now. We'll discuss this later. I should get Miss Townsend up to the house so we can see to her injuries.”
“I'm not injured so badly that we can't continue this conversation.”
“Nevertheless, we are letting the staff get back to work.” He took her arm and led her to the house. “Let me handle this.”
“Why? So you can protect your precious Catherine?”
“She is not
my
Catherine.”
She jerked her arm away from his touch. She had to put some distance between them, get away to think, to decide what she would do now. First Ian's betrayal and now Lady Catherine seemed bent on hurting her.
“Sophia, let me help you.”
“I think you've done enough, thank you. But I have one request.”
“Anything.”
“Say nothing to anyone about this.”
“I have to tell Nathaniel, Sophia. The woman is a guest in his house. Who knows what she'll do next.”
Sophia whirled around, then paused as dizziness washed over her. “Theo. We have to protect Theo.”
“Bateman is suspicious of her feelings for Smith-Williams. He may try something that will keep her here.”
Sophia frowned. “Like what?”
Ian's telling look said it all.
“He wouldn't. He's a gentlemen,” Sophia said.
“Desperate men do desperate things, Sophia.”
“As well I know.” She turned toward the house.
“I think we should discuss the elopement. You are still willing to help with that, aren't you?”
“I'm not so shallow that I'd allow my feelings for you to shadow Theo's happiness.”
“Thank youâI think.”
“Well, what is the plan?”
“We'll sneak her out of the house tomorrow while everyone is changing for dinner. It will be when Bateman will least expect it. He'll think she'll go tonight or tomorrow night.”
Sophia had to admit to herself that it was a good plan. “What do you need me to do?”
“She will hide in your room after tea, claiming she has a headache. Once the gong sounds, you'll collect her and take her down the backstairs and to the stables. I'll have the cart waiting for you both. You'll drive her to the Wheat Chaff Inn on the edge of the village. Smith-Williams will meet you there with her bags. They'll take the mail coach for Lancaster.”
“Lancaster? That is the opposite direction from Gretna Green.” Sophia shook her head. “It would be faster to take the North Road. It's but what, three days' ride?”
“Yes, and the first place Bateman will search when he finds she is gone. Remember, this is twenty thousand pounds slipping through his fingers.”
He had a point, but she wasn't going to concede it to him willingly. “From Lancaster where do they go?”
“They shall sail north to Scotland. Marry and meet us at my estate in Dumfries.”
“Us? You are dreaming. There is no us.” Sophia turned to go.
“Sophia, wait. We have to discuss this.”
“There is nothing to discuss. If you will excuse me, I'm covered in mud and ache all over. I want nothing more than a bath and a cup of tea.”
“We are not done with this conversation.”
“As far as I am concerned, we are.” She picked up her skirts and forced her legs to move faster. If Ian continued to talk to her, she'd give in. Even in this short time discussing Theo's elopement she was ready to forgive him. Perhaps she'd hit her head harder than she thought. She reached the steps leading into the house and paused. This was going to hurt.
Ian appeared next to her to assist her. “At least let me help you into the house.”
“Don't touch me.”
Ian released her and stepped away. “As you wish. But do not think that this discussion is over. We will be married.”
“There will be no wedding.”
“That's not what you agreed to last night.”
“I would hardly call what you said last night a proposal, nor did I accept it.”
Ian leaned close, so close she could feel the heat of his body. “You accepted my proposal when you let me deep inside your body. You cried out with your pleasure, Sophia. Don't deny it.”
Heat suffused her face. “Don't be coarse.”
“What do you expect from the son of a steward, my dear? It's in our nature to be coarse.” His voice was cold.
“That was uncalled for.”
“It's what you're thinking, isn't it? The man you gave yourself to is so far beneath you. How will you hold your head up in Town now? What have you always told everyone? You'd marry a man with a title? It seems it is as easy to fall into the arms of a commoner as it is a peer.”
The barb hit very close to home. “I'm not listening to this.”
“Mark my words, Sophia, you will be my wife.”
“And you are going to have to learn to live with disappointment.” She took a few steps and turned around to face Ian. He stood there looking at her with an odd expression on his face. If she didn't think him capable, she would have guessed he was in pain. But that wasn't possible. A man who could manipulate people as easily as he did not feel pain.
“I'm assuming you'll be leaving once you've completed your ruination of Lord Bateman.”
He winced. “Don't forget that you're helping with that.”
“I'm helping a friend find happiness. My motives are pure.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I would ask that you please leave me alone. We shall be polite in company, but no more. I expect you to leave once this business is done.”
“Sophia, please don't do this.”
The pleading in his voice was almost her undoing. She forced herself to climb the steps and enter the house with her head high and her eyes dry. She started to slowly climb the staircase to her room, gripping the banister tightly as she moved from step to step.
Anne rushed out of the library. “There you are, Sophia. We have been so worried.”
“I'm fine.”
Anne moved quickly to her side. “You are not. You're hurt. What happened?”
“My horse threw me.”
Anne gripped her waist to assist her up the stairs. “Funny, but Lady Catherine didn't mention you falling.”
“I just want a hot bath and to lay down.”
“Should I send for the doctor?”
Sophia shook her head. “I'm fine, just bruised. I just want some time alone.”
Anne nodded but asked no further questions, for which Sophia was thankful. She didn't feel like rehashing her argument with Ian now. The last thing she needed was for Anne to realize Sophia had succumbed to Ian's charms. She'd never hear the end of marriage if that occurred. Nathaniel would make sure Ian married her.
After settling Sophia in her chair by the fire, Anne left the room. “I'll have a bath brought up along with your maid. I'll make your excuses at dinner tonight. Rest, Sophia. You'll feel better in the morning.”
Sophia nodded because she was supposed to. She realized she wasn't going to be better for a very long time.
* * *
This day could not get any worse. Ian stumbled into the house feeling as if he'd been punched in the stomach. At this very moment, all he wanted was to get drunk and not feel the pain of Sophia's rejection. He'd asked for it. He'd pushed her into intimacy without really knowing how she felt about him. He'd revealed his feelings to her thinking she'd not give herself to him unless she felt the same. Women just didn't view lovemaking the way men did.
He should have known. Sophia Townsend had been running him in circles for the past three years.
Ian made his way to the library without seeing another person. He poured a brandy and tossed it back. The burn made his eyes water. He filled the glass again and tossed that back as well.
“If you aren't going to savor it, let me get you the cheaper brandy. Or I could get you whiskey, if you're seriously looking to get drunk.”
Ian finally realized he wasn't alone in the room. Nathaniel sat behind his desk, ledgers spread out in front of him. Ian poured a bit more brandy in the glass and plopped down into one of the leather chairs in front of the desk. “I should have listened to you when you warned me about the Townsend women.”
Nathaniel laughed. “What has happened now?”
“The list is too long to discuss now. Suffice it to say that Sophia now hates me more than ever.”
Nathaniel got up and poured himself a brandy. “I can't have you drinking alone.”
Ian took a sip from his glass. The first two drinks had deadened the pain a bit; this one he could savor.
Nathaniel took the chair opposite him. “I overheard Sophia tell Anne that she had been thrown from her horse.”
“My hands are still shaking. She was thrown because someone cut into the girth of the saddle. It snapped while she was galloping through the pastures near the river.”
“Good God, she could have been killed! How badly was she injured?”
“She hit her head and is badly bruised but all right.”
“If she had to fall at least she hit the hardest part.”
“Too true.”
“There appears to be something else amiss with our guests. Lord Bateman came back from shooting and was slamming doors left and right.”
“He is about to be even angrier.” Ian couldn't keep the smile from his face. He was going to enjoy every moment of Bateman's comeuppance.
“As it is happening in my house, perhaps you should enlighten me.”
Ian wasn't sure where to start. “You know most of it.” He was suddenly filled with a nervous energy. “Bateman wanted me to marry Lady Catherine in exchange for the land I offered to purchase.”
“That's rather medieval of him, isn't it? She's not chattel.”
“I think it was her idea.”
“Why?”
“Money. She knows me from when my father was steward for the old earl. She knows I'm rich. She thinks she can help me move up in Society or politics.”
“She has a point, if you're interested in that sort of thing.” Nathaniel set down his glass. “I didn't think you were interested in social climbing and politics.”
“I've not ruled out politics. Catherine is desperate because Bateman's pockets are to let. There will be no more trips to Town or fine gowns until Bateman is solvent again.”
“Which will happen when he marries Miss Hamilton and her thousands of pounds.”
Ian nodded. “I think Catherine sabotaged Sophia's saddle. She had the opportunity.”
“But what was her motive?”
“I don't know. There has always been an animosity between the two women. They were constantly competing for the same gentlemen in Town.”
“And here.”
Ian had to concede that point. “I've made my partiality to Sophia well known to Catherine. This might have been her way to get Sophia out of the way.”
“By attempting to kill her? That is a bit extreme, isn't it? Besides, Catherine has no need to feel desperate if Bateman is marrying Miss Hamilton.”
Ian looked down at his boots, still covered in mud from rescuing Sophia. “He's about to be extremely disappointed.”
“She's going to refuse him?”
“She is eloping tomorrow with Captain Smith-Williams.”
Nathaniel drained his brandy and slammed the glass down on the desk. “Then why travel with him? She's been leading him on this entire time.”
“She wanted to please her parents. She thought she could go through with it until she found out that she was carrying Smith-Williams's child.”