“No more bloody house parties after this.”
“Actually, intrigues are why people attend house parties.”
“I assumed people would behave in a civilized manner.”
Ian felt his face heat. The brandy in his stomach churned a bit. The last thing he wanted to discuss was his relationship with Sophia, especially with her brother-in-law.
Reading Ian's guilty expression, Nathanial groaned. “Not you as well! If I didn't know your intentions were honorable, I'd punch you in the nose right now. Tell me you have a date for the wedding.”
“Sorry, but no. Sophia and I have some matters to work through yet.”
Nathaniel covered his face with his hand. “I can't tell Anne this.”
“Don't tell her about our suspicions about Lady Catherine either. Sophia doesn't want anyone to know.”
“I'll try, but I'm not making any promises. Anne has the uncanny ability of knowing when I'm keeping something from her.”
“Do your best.” Ian drained the last of the brandy in his glass. “I am going to go change for dinner.” He left the library and slogged his way up the stairs feeling extremely tired. The last thing he wanted was to face everyone at dinner, but he had to keep up appearances.
God, how he wished he could go home and leave this mess and pain behind him.
“Mr. McDonald, if I might have a word?”
Lady Catherine stood in the doorway of her bedroom. She was already dressed for dinner, which made him realize how late it was.
“I really should get ready for dinner.”
“This won't take long.” She stepped inside the room.
“It isn't appropriate for me to be in your room, Catherine.”
“It will be even less appropriate if I'm overheard, Ian. Please?”
Ian stepped into the room but stopped her from closing the door all the way. “Leave it partially open.”
“If you insist.” Catherine folded her hands in front of her and gave all the appearance of innocence.
Given what he knew of her character, she was far from it. “What is this about, Catherine?”
“I saw you leaving Miss Townsend's room this morning.”
The pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place for Ian. “Sophia has agreed to be my wife. Will you wish us well?”
“If you are marrying her to protect her virtue, you are a bigger fool than I thought you were. Sophia Townsend was ruined years ago. Everyone in Town knows about it.”
Ian had never wanted to strike a woman as he did as Catherine spewed her venom. “Is there anything else?”
“Well . . . no. Isn't that enough?”
Ian studied her for a long moment. “How far are you willing to go to get your way, Catherine?”
“I'm sure I don't know what you mean.”
“Why did you sabotage Sophia's saddle this morning?”
“You cannot be serious. How would I know how to sabotage a saddle?”
“You had ample opportunity. A knife was found in the hay near where the saddle was stored. Why would you do this? She could have been killed.”
Catherine's face turned red. “I wish she had. What is it about Sophia Townsend that draws men like flies to manure? Even my own brother succumbed to her charms until I revealed the truth about her to him.”
“What have you done, Catherine?”
She laughed. “I've protected my family. Bateman wanted to marry her, did you know that? She would be related to me. I'd have to see her every day. It was unthinkable.”
Ian stepped close to her, so angry he had to close his hands into tight fists to keep from wrapping them around Catherine's neck. “Stay away from Sophia Townsend.”
“You can't hurt me, Ian. You have no proof.”
“Do not underestimate me. I will ruin you so badly that you'll be ostracized from your precious Society. How do you think they will feel about you when they find out you attempted to murder one of their own?”
Ian left the room, slamming the door behind him. Bateman needed to know that his sister was mad, but unfortunately Bateman wouldn't listen to him.
Ian entered his room and called for a bath. This trip was turning into a nightmare.
Chapter 22
S
ophia kept to her room most of the following day. She was covered in bruises from the fall but had recovered sufficiently. She just wasn't up to seeing Catherine or facing Ian and his insistence on marrying him.
What was it about unsuitable men that drew her attention like a bee to a flower? She'd done so well avoiding them over the last few years, at least until Ian. Though, if she admitted it to herself, she couldn't put him into the mold of an unsuitable mate. He was handsome, wealthy, and a gentleman, regardless of his parentage. He was more of a gentlemen than most of the peers she'd met in London. Ian was the rare breed of self-made man in a Society that enforced conformity. He stood out because he was different.
She'd miss his friendship the most. She didn't think men were capable of having a woman as a friend until she'd met Ian. She'd also miss his teasing. He kept her from being too serious about herself. Sophia hadn't realized how much she needed that until now.
She walked to the window and looked out. She had to face the real reason she'd pushed Ian away yesterday. She'd didn't know if she could live without the acceptance of Society. Her whole life had centered on acceptance. She had to have the right wardrobe from the most popular modiste and the right friends from the most appropriate families. It was all about her connections and how she could improve them.
Sophia wrapped her arms tightly around herself. She had just ruined her best chance at happiness by pushing Ian away. He'd made her realize that none of that mattered. How stupid and blind she'd been not to see what was right before her. For three years heâd waited patiently for her to realize it and now it was too late.
Or was it?
Sophia turned from the window to cross the room. She would find him. Apologize to him. Make him realize she needed him.
She was just about to step out when Anne came into the room.
“Anne, what is it?”
“Tell me it isn't true, Sophia.” Anne fairly trembled with anger.
Sophia took a step back toward the bed. “I would if I knew to what you were referring.”
“The list is rather long at the moment.”
Sophia sat down on the bed. “Might as well tell me all and get it over with.”
Anne looked as if she didn't know where to start. Sophia gave her a few minutes to collect her thoughts.
“What is going on between you and Lady Catherine? Nathaniel told me she was the cause of your being thrown from the horse.”
“She's never liked me; you know that.”
“And that excuses her behavior?”
“She is used to getting her own way. She doesn't think the rules apply to her.”
“You could have been killed! I've half a mind to throw her out of my house on her bottom.”
“She will be gone soon enough.”
“That is all you have to say on the matter? I cannot be so forgiving.”
Sophia didn't want to discuss why she felt more pity for Catherine than hatred. “What else?”
“Miss Hamilton and Captain Smith-Williams are eloping.”
“I know nothing about it, and that's all I'm saying on the subject.” Sophia wouldn't say a word until she knew Theo was safe from Bateman.
Anne wasn't having any of it. She looked as if she wanted to strangle her.
“Was that the end of your list?”
“To think that all of this was going on under my own roof. One final question: What about Ian?”
Anne had saved the most difficult matter for the last. “What about him?”
“Is it true that you and heâ”
“That is none of your business.”
Anne covered her face with her hands. “I understand. The man has loved you for three years, Sophia. Please tell me you aren't just playing with him because you couldn't have Lord Bateman.”
“I can't believe you think me capable of such a thing.”
Something in Sophia's voice caught Anne's attention. “Then things are all right between you?”
“Things are muddled at the moment between us.”
“Can you mend them?”
Sophia couldn't meet her sister's eyes without bursting into tears. “I hope so.”
Anne stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Sophia. The dam broke and she sobbed into Anne's shoulder. “I've been such a bacon-brained idiot.”
“It cannot be that bad.”
Sophia nodded her head. “I said some hateful things, Anne. I insulted his heritage. I let him think he wasn't worthy of me. That he was less than a gentleman.”
“You must talk it over and mend it. Though I imagine you'll have to do some groveling. And I know how much you hate to grovel.”
“What if he gives up on me?”
“He won't.” Anne handed her a handkerchief. “Dry your eyes and come down for tea.”
Sophia shook her head. “I can't. Not yet. I'm barely able to move after yesterday's fall.” It was not exactly the truth, but she needed to be there for Theo, who would be here shortly to hide until they could sneak down the backstairs and out to the stables. “Then there is having to face Lady Catherine.”
“Now that I understand, I can hardly wait until they leave. Get some rest. I'll send up tea and those cakes you like. But you will have to face them all at some point.”
“I know. One more day. That's all I need.”
Anne left the bedroom. Sophia lay back on the bed. Could Ian forgive her? Would he still want her? She hoped so. Oh, how she hoped so because she was desperately afraid she loved him.
* * *
Ian stood in front of the library window at Horneswood, staring out across the pasture at the Lodge. He'd almost gone to her the night before but thought better of it. He hated how they'd parted but wasn't surprised by it. He should have been honest with her, but in his defense, it hadn't mattered to him. What mattered was the man he was now.
He worried about her injuries. She'd said she was fine, but he needed to confirm that for himself. There were discussions to have. Decisions to make. After this business with Bateman was over, Ian would give her one last chance to rub her heel into his heart and then he was done. He'd begin to put her behind him and find happiness somehow.
“When do you return to Scotland?” Tony asked from behind him.
“Day after tomorrow, I believe. Once I'm sure Smith-Williams and Miss Hamilton are safely away.”
“What about Sophia?”
“We will see. She has no desire to marry me and I've no desire to keep allowing her to hurt me. It's time to go home.” He could hear Tony approach the window but said nothing else. Even saying those words aloud hurt.
“That's not the advice you gave me two years ago when I was suffering a similar emotion about Juliet.”
“Juliet loved you.”
“You don't think Sophia loves you?”
Ian gave a harsh laugh. “I don't know what to think anymore.”
Tony clasped his shoulder. “Do you honestly believe Sophia is capable of letting you into her bed without feeling something for you?”
Ian glanced at Tony. “How did you know?”
Tony smiled knowingly. “What is it about those Townsend women that entrap and enthrall us so? And just when they have us where they want us, they do the complete opposite of what we expect.”
“I've been patient for three years.” Three long years of being Sophia's friend when he wanted so much more.
“Then a few more days won't matter.”
“I doubt very seriously it will make any difference. She made her feelings very clear. She is the most stubborn woman I've ever met.”
“Yes, she is,” Tony said.
Ian glared at him.
“You forget she was set to marry me way before she met you,” Tony said.
Jealousy had Ian tightening his hands into fists. He forced himself to relax. What had he become? He did not like this side of himself.
“It was a year before she met you,” Tony continued.
“I do not want to hear about this.”
“We all have things in our past.”
“I care nothing for her past. She should care nothing for mine.”
“Social status and family connections are everything to Sophia.”
“I am not that person anymore.”
“It's different for women, especially women from the upper class. Sophia was brought up to improve the family fortunes by marrying well. She was taught that connections with peers were important. You are judged by Society by who your friends and family are. She was groomed to make the appropriate connections.”
“Can't she see that none of that is important?” Ian's frustration boiled over. “I don't understand any of it.”
“Sophia isn't going to be able to set aside something she's spent her whole life believing just because she fell in love with a man who cares very little about it.”
Ian pushed down the words that stirred hope inside him. He just wasn't sure about anything except that he was done being her whipping boy. “It's not just that. This business with Bateman; she's accused me of manipulating her to get back at him for past wrongs.”
“Wasn't that the reason you set out to help Smith-Williams and Miss Hamilton?”
Ian had to concede that Tony was correct, but somewhere along the way his motives had changed. “Yes, in the beginning, but not now.”
“Did you tell Sophia that?”
Ian scrubbed his face with his hand. “I tried.”
“What romantic gestures have you made?” Tony asked.
“I know nothing of romance.”
Tony laughed. “Then I suggest you learn. Women love the stuff. Flowers, gifts, and compliments will go a long way in winning her back.”
“What do I do?”
“I have no idea, but I know someone who does.” Tony moved to cross the room and whisper to one of the maids working in the entryway. “My wife will know how to fix this.”
Would this humiliation never end? “Just let it be, Matthews.”
“And see two of my closest friends unhappy? What's going to happen when you visit and see each other again? I for one hate uncomfortable situations. Trust me on this: Juliet will know what to do.”
Ian moved back to the brandy table. Ten o'clock in the morning and he was drinking. This was what Sophia had brought him to.
Juliet entered the library. She smiled at Ian and then said to Tony, “You wished to see me?”
“Love, our friend here needs your help.”
“Why would Ian need my help?”
“He's trying to woo Sophia back into his life. Evidently they had a wicked row and now aren't speaking.”
Juliet glanced at Ian. “But you fight with each other all the time. Why is this time different?”
Tony whispered into Juliet's ear. She flushed. “Oh. You are going to marry her, aren't you?”
“I've asked and she's said no.”
” My guess is that he bedded her and just assumed they'd marry. It's a common mistake.”
Ian felt his face heat. “It wasn't like that.”
“Ian, please tell me you got down on one knee and proposed,” Juliet said.
“Uh, no. Was I supposed to?”
“Men.” Juliet moved to take the chair in front of the desk Ian had vacated. “My sister is different from Anne and me. She will want all the romantic trappings so that she can tell her friends and her children about the day her husband proposed. It's very important to Sophia that this be done right and proper.”
“How am I supposed to know what is the right way to do this?” Ian asked.
Juliet got up and went to the bookcase, looking for a particular volume.
Ian glanced at Tony. “What is she doing?”
“Getting you a book to show you how to do this properly.”
“There are books about this stuff?”
“Evidently.”
Finally Juliet found the book. She opened it, thumbing through the pages until she found the right one. “Sophia wants romance. She's had an image in her head of how her wedding proposal should be.”
“She's had at least half a dozen proposals already. Why should mine be different?”
Tony laughed loudly. “You poor, dumb sod.”
Juliet glared at her husband. “They never did it correctly to Sophia's mind.” She walked over and handed him a slim volume. “Quote something from this.”
Ian looked at the book and groaned. “Not poetry. Anything but poetry.”
“In the three years you've known Sophia, have you ever sent her flowers?” Juliet asked.
Ian shook his head as he thumbed through the book. This was drivel. He couldn't do it.
“Candy? Gifts?”
He continued to shake his head. “I've never sent her anything.”
“I suggest you start, then. If you wish to win my sister's heart, you're going to have to do all of those things, and do them better than any other man has. She's been courted by the best and the most romantic, yet she turned them down. Try not to foul this up.”
Ian looked at Tony. “And this will work?”
“I have no idea. I didn't have to do any of that.”
“That's because Juliet already loved you.” Ian sighed and snapped the book shut. This was going to take some creativity and thought. After another moment's thought, he said “Can one order flowers in Beetham?”