She glanced at him in shock. “I do not want to discuss that now.”
“I agree. All that was needed to be said has been said.” He couldn't keep the flatness from his tone.
She heaved a heavy sigh and twisted her hands in her lap. “That's not true. There is something to say.”
“Go on.”
She wouldn't meet his eyes. “I owe you an apology. I had no right to call your parentage into question, no right to make you feel less than you are. I am sorry.”
Ian let the words sink into his brain and his heart. It was a small consolation, he supposed. “Apology accepted.”
“Then we can be friends again?”
The hope in her voice almost killed him. “Perhaps after a time.”
She nodded, accepting his rejection, then turned back to her tea.
Silence once again boomed through the room. The urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless was riding Ian hard. He could make her want him. He could stir her passions until she admitted how she felt, but would it be the truth or would they just be words uttered easily to make him feel better?
Damn, this was hard! He had not thought just sitting here with her alone would be this difficult. If Juliet was right, he'd have to bide his time and woo her as he should have in the first place, instead of letting his other organ guide him into doing what he most wanted to do.
He watched the clock as she finished her tea. “I think perhaps we can leave now.”
Sophia stood and brushed out her skirts. She took his arm as they left the parlor and out the door to the cart she had brought.
Ian assisted her, then climbed in and accepted the reins from one of the servants. “How do you suggest we get back to the Lodge?”
“We can take the road past the church and avoid the main road through Beetham. It will lead around toward Horneswood.”
“I know the way.” He urged the horse forward and took the street that led to the church. It was getting late, the sun sinking low, casting dark shadows on the road. They had no lamp on the cart, so they needed to be there by dark. “I should have thought to bring a lantern.”
“We should be fine. No one takes these roads this late.”
They passed the vicar's cottage and St. Michael's. Ian turned the cart onto the smaller lane leading back to the Lodge. The evening had grown cooler and Sophia shivered beside him. “Do you want my coat?”
“I'm fine. Thank you.”
Ian hated this awkward silence between them but could think of nothing to say. No, that wasn't the truth. He could think of a great deal to say but didn't want to bring up the topic on his mind. She clearly had no desire to discuss it either, given her silence.
“Do you think Bateman will be angry?” Sophia finally asked.
“I think he'll be bloody furious.”
“You'll have your revenge then.”
“Sophia, it wasn't about revenge.”
“If you say so.”
Ian glanced at her. “You don't like them any better than I do, so why do you care?”
“Lord Bateman was kind to me, until his sister ruined it,” Sophia defended.
Ian let a few minutes pass in silence. “You never did tell me what she said to you that day the horse threw you.”
“She told me the reason Lord Bateman decided not to marry me was because of the rumor that I had been ruined.”
He could hear the hurt in her voice. “Does it matter now?”
“Now that I know the man? Not really, but I don't want anyone thinking less of me.”
“Anyone who knows you would not.”
“Why would Catherine do that to me? I've never really liked her, but I've never been rude.”
“She is jealous. You move through Society with an ease she can only imagine. People want to be around you. Your personality draws them to you like a moth to a flame.”
“More like a fly to a spider.”
“You are not as bad as that, Sophia.”
She glanced up at him. “Thank you.”
They spent the rest of the trip back in easy quiet, now that some of the tension between them had been dispersed. Ian guided the cart to the front of the stables and handed Sophia down. “Help me get the horse into the stables and we can go up to the house together.”
“Of course.” She accepted the reins and watched as he disconnected the cart. It must have been time for the servants' supper because no one was in the stables, which was probably for the best. He took the reins from Sophia. “I'll just put him in his stall.“
Sophia nodded, glancing nervously at the stables.
“Stay here if you wish.”
He guided the horse to the stall and gave him some oats. He closed the stall and hesitated. It was done and he felt nothing. The land didn't really matter now. Only the woman who waited outside mattered.
“Where is Theo Hamilton, McDonald?”
Ian looked up and found Bateman facing him with a gun. Bateman pulled back the hammer, the sound echoing in the stillness.
“I suppose she's on her way to marry the man she loves,” Ian quipped.
Bateman moved closer. “Do you have any idea what you've done?”
Ian kept his eyes on the gun, hoping Sophia would have the sense to stay outside. Bateman must have been waiting for them to return. “I have a fairly good idea.”
“Why?”
“Do you really have to ask that?”
“This is about the land? A stupid piece of land I already agreed to sell you?”
“That you'd barter your sister for but not sell outright. That's part of it, yes.”
“I didn't take you for someone interested in fairy stories, McDonald.”
Ian looked around the stable for something with which to disarm Bateman. “Some people deserve their happily ever after.”
“That's romantic nonsense.”
“Surely you'd allow Miss Hamilton to marry the man she loves.”
Bateman raised the gun with a curse. “You have stolen a fortune from me, McDonald. Now how shall I make you pay?”
Chapter 24
S
ophia shivered in the growing darkness. “Ian, hurry up. I'm cold.” She paused, listening for his voice. “Ian?” How long should it take to put a horse in a stall? She walked into the stable.
“Sophia, get back, now.” Ian's voice was dark, terse.
“No, I think Miss Townsend should join the party, don't you?” Bateman said as he grabbed her arm tightly. “Come, Miss Townsend, celebrate with us.”
She twisted her arm, glancing between Bateman and Ian. “Release me!”
“Ever the shrew, I see. How do you tolerate her in bed, McDonald?”
Ian said nothing. Bateman trailed the barrel of the gun down her throat, the metal cold against her skin. Sophia went still and swallowed her panic. Oh dear God, what had they done? She fought the panic and the fear and tried to pull herself together. She needed to think, to come up with something that would allow them to escape.
“She's not part of this, Bateman. Let her go.”
“And have her run to the house to alert Matthews? I think not. Where did they go?”
“Of whom are you speaking?” Sophia said as calmly as she could.
“Tell me, bitch!” Bateman screeched in her ear.
“Gretna Green,” Sophia muttered. “If you hurry, you can catch them. It's only been an hour.”
She closed her eyes, hoping he believed her. Please God, let him believe her.
“I don't think Mr. McDonald would be so careless as to send them the obvious way, Miss Townsend. Try again.” Bateman jammed the gun into her bruised side.
Sophia couldn't stop the groan of pain from escaping.
“Bateman, she doesn't know. Let her go.” Ian edged closer to them.
“Stop right there or I'll shoot her right in front of you.”
Ian stopped. “You don't want to do that, Bateman. Think of your sister. Think of your family.”
“Without Miss Hamilton, there is no estate.” He tightened his hold on Sophia and she squeaked. “You have no idea what you've done to me, do you, McDonald?”
“I have a good idea, but she is not part of this. Let her go and you and I will deal with it.”
Bateman laughed. “Finally, something you care more about than money. How does it feel to see me touch her thus?” He ran the gun over the neckline of Sophia's gown. She shivered as the cold metal touched her skin.
Sophia struggled against him as Bateman hauled her closer to him. He smelled of sweat and panic. She met Ian's blue eyes across the stables as Bateman pulled her back into the shadows.
“I should have a taste of her just to see what I was missing. All of London wondered if the ice princess was as cold as she pretended to be.”
His mouth found hers and Sophia almost gagged. She placed her hands on his shoulders and tried to push him away, but his grip was too tight. His tongue ravaged her mouth and she felt nausea rise up. She finally wrenched her mouth away from his and wiped it.
Bateman chuckled darkly at the look of anger on Ian's face. He could do nothing to help her as Bateman dragged her farther into the stable.
“I will kill him unless you cooperate with me, Miss Townsend,” Bateman warned, his breath hot on her skin.
Hysteria was crashing into her in waves. She fought her way through it. She had to gather her thoughts. She focused on Ian, trying to read his eyes. He was trying to tell her something, but she couldn't figure out what. He mouthed one word:
faint.
Faint? She never fainted. Ever. She fought again.
“Stay still or this will hurt more,” Bateman said. His arm was around her waist, his hand cupping her breast and squeezing hard.
“I will scream this place down if you touch me like that again.”
Bateman laughed. “Go ahead and your precious commoner will be dead before your relatives can reach us. Of course, you and I will be gone.”
“You wouldn't!”
“What, use you? Of course I would. Half the men in London will be lining up after me. Though they may not want you when I'm done.”
“You disgust me.” She spat out the words, not caring if she angered him further. Sophia wasn't sure what he wanted her to do, but she was sick of being touched by this idiot. Fear was quickly being replaced by anger. She wiggled an arm loose and elbowed him hard in his stomach.
Bateman's hold on her loosened and she shoved at him before running to Ian.
Ian caught Sophia as she crashed into him. He tried to push her behind him, but she was having none of it. She was trembling and pale as ivory. “Get behind me. He still has the gun,” Ian urged.
“He'll shoot you, Ian.”
There was a tone in her voice that caused him to take his eyes off Bateman. “You'd care?”
She nodded.
“Then trust me.” He shoved her away from him and went toward Bateman. He kicked at the gun in his hand. Bateman screamed with pain and let the gun drop. It went off as it hit the ground. Sophia screamed.
Bateman took that moment, when Ian was distracted by Sophia, and punched his jaw. Ian's head went back, pain radiating through his face. He cursed.
“My boxing lessons paid off,” Bateman sneered.
Ian punched him in the gut, then crashed his fist into his jaw. Bateman went down on his back on the stone floor with a groan.
Ian stood over the man, lying out cold on the floor. It was over. He looked around for rope and quickly tied the man up. The gunshot should have people scrambling around them soon. “Sophia, go fetch Nathaniel. He'll know how to contact the magistrate.”
She said nothing.
“Sophia?”
“Ian, it hurts.”
Ian rushed over to her, his heart in his throat. The gun. How had he forgotten the gun? She pressed her hand to her side as blood bloomed on her pelisse. “Sit here, sweetheart. Let me see what happened.”
“I don't know how I was hit,” she whispered. “I feel cold.”
“Stay with me, love.” Ian picked her up in his arms. “Let's get you to the house.”
“Bateman was going to kill you.”
“I told you, men do desperate things.”
“It's over, then,” Sophia said, her voice weak.
“Yes, love, it is over.” Ian looked down at the woman in his arms. She'd fainted after all. He hurried to the house, bursting through the front door and shouting loudly for help.
Suddenly, the room was filled with people. Mrs. Matthews took charge, directing him to carry Sophia to her room. He lay her on the bed. He touched her cheek. It was cool under his touch. “Is she going to be all right?”
“Out, Mr. McDonald,” Anne said brusquely as the housekeeper came in with a basket of bandages.
Ian found himself standing outside the door as it closed in his face.
“Where is Bateman?” Nathaniel asked beside him.
“In the stables. He had a gun.”
“He shot Sophia?”
Ian shook his head. “It's my fault. I kicked the gun from his hand and it went flying. The hammer had been pulled back and it went off. Sophia must have been hit.” Ian scrubbed his face with his hands. “It's all my fault.”
“Pull yourself together, man. Let's deal with Bateman,” Nathaniel said harshly.
Seeing Bateman again was the last thing Ian wanted, but it needed to be done. “Should we call the magistrate?”
“I am the magistrate,” Nathaniel muttered. “Damned if I know what I'm supposed to do with himâor you, for that matter.”
Ian said nothing as they walked back to the stables. Bateman had come to and was shouting for help.
“Matthews, at last! Untie me at once. I want this man brought up on charges.”
“On what charges, Lord Bateman?” Nathaniel's voice was calm. “I didn't think it was against the law to assist in an elopement.”
“He took what was rightfully mine.”
“Miss Hamilton is a person, not property,” Ian said angrily. “He attacked Sophia. He was going to rape her in front of me.”
“I did no such thing. She threw herself at me. She's been throwing herself at me ever since we were last in Town.”
Ian had had enough. He went for Bateman's throat but was swiftly blocked by Nathaniel.
“Enough!” Nathaniel said. “If word of this is made known it will ruin Sophia.”
“He should pay for what he did!”
“Ian, think clearly,” Nathaniel said.
“What if she dies?”
“Dies? I did nothing but kiss the girl,” Bateman snarled.
“Your gun fired and she was hit,” Ian shouted.
“You kicked it from my hand,” Bateman shouted back.
“Both of you, stop. Now,” Nathaniel snarled.
Ian stepped away from Bateman, afraid that if he got close enough he'd kill him. Fear, anger, and guilt washed over him like a cold rain. He'd really wrecked things now, and it was going to cost him more than he was willing to give. It was going to take Sophia away from him forever.
“If I prosecute him, Sophia's name will be dragged through the muck. I can't do that.”
“But he shot her,” Ian exclaimed.
“I did not shoot her and the gun wouldn't have gone off if you hadn't kicked it out of my hand,” said Bateman.
“What was I supposed to do, allow you to shoot us both?”
Nathaniel held up his hands for silence.
“The last thing any of us wants is a scandal.” Nathaniel turned to Bateman. “I want you and your sister packed and gone tonight. Within the hour, if possible. You will not speak of this incident to anyone. If I hear the slightest bit of gossip, I will make your culpability in this mess known. Do not darken my door again. Understood?”
“That's it?” Ian shouted. “That's all you're going to do?”
Nathaniel glared at him. “You are as much to blame as he for Sophia's injury.”
Ian backed down as waves of guilt rushed over him. Bateman shoved past him on his way back to the house.
“Come back to the house, Ian.” Nathaniel's voice was gentle now. “You need a drink.”
Ian felt as if his gut had been torn from the inside out. He followed Nathaniel back to the house. Catherine was waiting in the hallway.
“What has happened? Why is my brother insisting we leave? Where is Theo?”
Ian glared at her. “Where should I begin? Captain Smith-Williams and Miss Hamilton are on their way to be married.”
“They are eloping? I knew I should have stopped Sophia Townsend when I saw her in the corridor.”
“As opposed to sabotaging her saddle so that she'd be thrown from her horse?”
Catherine went pale. “I told you, I had nothing to do with that.”
“Pardon me if I don't believe you, Lady Catherine,” Ian said snidely. “I suggest you pack your things. You and your brother are leaving. Now.”
“I will ruin you both in Town. You won't find anyone who will do business with you.”
Ian curled his fists. Never had he wanted to hit a woman as much as he did now. “Do so and you'll regret it. I have enough evidence to ruin both you and your brother. You won't be able to show your faces in Town ever again. I suggest you gather your things and go.”
Ian was done with Catherine Greyson. He stalked past her and went into the library.
Nathaniel followed, after giving the servants instructions to ready their coach and escort Bateman and his sister off the property. “The doctor should be here shortly,” he said as he entered the library.
Ian stared out of the window into the night. How much time had passed? He had no idea. “I can't lose her, Nathaniel. Especially not by my own hand.”
Nathaniel pushed a glass of brandy at him. “She's not going anywhere.”
Ian sipped the brandy; it burned his throat and settled in his stomach like fire. He deserved this pain. “I have to see her.”
“Let her sister see to her first. Wait until Lord Bateman and his sister leave. I don't want any further confrontations.”
Ian turned back to the window, feeling lost. How arrogant and stupid he had been to risk Sophia's life. He knew Bateman would be angry at losing Miss Hamilton and her money, but he was sure he could handle it. Now Sophia was hurt yet again because of his thoughtlessness. He had no chance of winning her now. “Perhaps I should go too.”
“Where?”
“I don't know. Home. Horneswood.” Somewhere far away from Sophia.
The door of the library opened. Ian whirled around, sloshing the brandy he'd forgotten was in his hand.
Mrs. Matthews moved into the room and looked at her husband. “I take it you've ordered our guests to leave?”
“They have an hour.”
“Nathaniel, it's night. Where do you think they will go?”
“I do not care. They will not remain under this roof.”
She nodded.
Ian stepped forward. “How is Sophia?”
“I think it was a ricochet. There was no bullet, but the doctor will have to verify. She's resting.”
“Then she will be all right?”
“She will recover, yes.” Her voice was cool. “How dare you involve her in this nonsense, Mr. McDonald?”
Ian stepped back from her anger. “It was wrong of me, I know.”
“First she is thrown from her horse and now this.” Anne had her hands on her hips. “What's next?”
“Easy, love. I think McDonald has already beaten himself up pretty well over this,” Nathaniel said, taking his wife into his arms.
“She could have been killed.”
Ian set down the glass. He knew what needed to be done now. “If you'll excuse me, I'll go.”