Nathaniel looked at him. “Where?”
“I'll stay at Horneswood tonight.” Ian looked at Anne. “I did not mean for this to happen. I'd rather die than see Sophia hurt in any way.”
“What will you do?” she asked.
“It's time for me to go home. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Anne pulled out of her husband's arms. “What am I supposed to say to Sophia when she asks for you?”
“The truth. That she finally got what she wanted: me out of her life.”
Ian left the library and the house. He walked across the pasture to the small bridge over the creek that separated Horneswood from the Lodge. The pasture was empty but full of memories. That was all he had left.
* * *
Sophia glanced up as the door opened, hopeful that Ian would step through. She was disappointed as Anne entered. Would he not come to her?
“I just saw the doctor out. He says you will be fine.”
“Such a fuss over a scratch.”
Anne sat down on the bed beside her. “The bullet grazed a fairly large scratch into your side. The doctor wants you to stay in bed and rest for a few days. We are to watch for fever, but he thinks you will be fine.”
“Can you send Ian up?” Sophia finally asked.
Anne took her hand and squeezed it. “He's gone.”
Tears filled her eyes. “What? Why?”
“He thought it best after all that had happened. He's the cause of this, Sophia. If he had not meddled in Bateman's affairs none of this would have happened.”
Sophia yanked her hand away. “You told him to leave? How could you?”
“I did not tell him to leave. He went on his own. He feels responsible.”
“He is not responsible. It was an accident.”
“Ian McDonald had no business involving you in this mess.”
“
This mess
would not have happened had I not invited Bateman and his sister to stay,” Sophia said. “It's my fault, not Ian's.” She struggled to sit up but collapsed back from the pain. “He cannot leave yet.”
“Lie still before you rip out the stitches the doctor put in you,” Anne said sharply.
Sophia closed her eyes as she realized Ian didn't have any reason to stay. She'd never told him how she felt. She'd never tried to convince him that she'd been horribly wrong about everything. “I want him to stay.”
“Why?” Anne's voice was soft, gentle.
Sophia opened her eyes and blinked away some tears. “I love him, Anne. I love him and it's too late. I have said some terrible things to him. You cannot imagine how bad.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I have been so foolish. I thought I wanted a title. Lord Bateman was going to be the perfect husband.”
“Yes, and look how that turned out.”
“He was not the man I thought he was.” Sophia wiped her face.
“What about Ian?”
“Somewhere in all the teasing and arguing, I fell in love with him.”
“Did you tell him?”
Sophia shook her head. “I was afraid. I've wanted a certain kind of life for so long, I couldn't let it go.”
“And now?”
“Now I don't care where we live as long as we're together, but it's too late.” Sophia turned her head into the pillow and sobbed. It was too late.
Chapter 25
T
he flowers arrived the next day; not just one bouquet but dozens. They filled every corner of Sophia's room as she recovered. They overflowed into the rest of the house. There was no note, but she knew they were from Ian. The following day gifts arrived: chocolates, books, and trinkets. Where he'd found them all, Sophia could only imagine. She hoped he would come the next day, but that day dawned and no more gifts arrived. Sophia was finally able to get out of bed and dress. She'd never gotten the fever everyone feared.
Now the skin around her wound was itching and she was sick to death of being in bed and her room. She wanted to go to Ian. She missed him. She needed to touch him, assure him that none of this was his fault.
The flowers and gifts were painful reminders of the fact that he'd left without saying good-bye. At first she'd hoped he'd arrive and ask her to marry him again. But as the day wore on, Sophia's hope wilted like the flowers in the vases around her. He would not come.
Juliet peeked into the bedroom and smiled. “Are you supposed to be out of bed?”
Sophia tucked her feet beneath her, wincing from the twinge of pain the movement caused. “I will go mad if I have to stay in that bed for a second longer.”
Juliet closed the door behind her and looked around. “Goodness, where did all the flowers come from?”
“There was no note.”
Juliet took the seat across from Sophia. “They are from Ian, aren't they?”
“He's never sent me anything before.” Sophia narrowed her eyes at Juliet. “You've been meddling. I can tell. You cannot hide that look from me. What have you done?”
“I might have mentioned that he should spend more time courting you as you should expect to be courted if he wished to win you.” Juliet glanced around. “I think he outdid himself.”
“Is he at Horneswood?” She tried to keep her voice casual, but the break in it gave her away.
“You love him, don't you, Sophia?”
Sophia nodded and looked around her. “I was in despair until the flowers started to arrive. A Scotsman would not spend this much money to assuage his guilt.”
“Indeed.” Juliet gave her a pointed look. “He's leaving tomorrow for his home.”
Sophia's heart sank. “Without seeing me?”
“I'm afraid the next move must be yours.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ian blames himself for your injuries. He blames himself for everything and doesn't think he deserves you.”
“It was an accidentâif anything, he saved me.” She shivered at the thought of Bateman's hands on her. “How do I convince him?”
“Anne is going to kill me for this, but we have to get you out of this house and to Horneswood before Ian leaves. Are you able?”
Sophia clasped her sister's hands. “Tell me what to do.”
Juliet pulled a book out of her pocket and set it on the table. Sophia frowned. It looked familiar, but Juliet was always carrying books.
“What is your plan?”
Juliet smiled a secret smile. “You are going to seduce him, of course.”
Sophia sat back. “What? I can't do that!”
Juliet glared at her. “Are you going to tell me that you've not already lain with Ian? Because if you do, I will call you a liar.”
Sophia felt her face flush. “Fine, but how are we going to get him back to the Lodge?”
“We aren't. You are going to seduce him at Horneswood.”
“I cannot call on a man.”
“You're calling on your sister, not Ian,” Juliet grumbled. “The only thing I'm worried about is whether you will be up to it due to your injury. Can you walk all the way to Horneswood?”
“I'll be fine,” Sophia said. She wasn't sure she would, but she would have to be.
“We are much less formal than Anne; we keep to country hours. You'll need to be in Ian's room by eight o'clock. I'll leave a nightgown for you to wear.”
“You want me to be waiting in bed for him? Are you mad?”
“Do you want Ian or not, Sophia? This is going to take courage and audacity to accomplish. You will be so thoroughly ruined when it's over that he'll have to marry you.”
“I don't want him to
have
to marry me. I want him to ask.”
Juliet sighed. “He thinks you don't love him, Sophia. No man would ask again under these circumstances. They have their pride. Way too much of it, if you ask me.”
“Fine. I'll be waiting in his room, but then what? I have no clue where to start.”
Juliet grinned. “That's why I brought this book.” She opened the book to a specific page. “I suggest this maneuver. Men really love it.”
Sophia took the book and looked at the picture. “Dear God, her mouth is on hisâ”
“Yes, it is. Notice his smile? Trust me, this will work.”
Sophia looked at her sister with a whole new respect. “May I keep this?”
Juliet shrugged. “Just don't let Anne see it.”
Sophia laughed. “Do you really think she cares at this point? You're both married.”
“But you aren't. Yet.” Juliet stood and looked around at the flowers. “I think I'll take some of these home with me. We can have the maids put them in Ian's room while we dine.”
“How am I supposed to sneak out of the house?”
Juliet looked at her. “Don't be dim, Sophia.”
“Fine. I'll take a tray in my room and retire early. I'll sneak across the back pasture.”
“Come in through the kitchens and up the back stairs. I'll have my maid waiting there for you to show you to Ian's room.”
“I hope he won't be up too very late.”
Juliet smiled. “He won't have a reason to. I'll have Tony completely occupied.”
“Juliet!”
“One of the grand benefits of marriage, my dear.” Juliet waggled her eyebrows. “Now, if he puts up a fight, drop the nightgown.”
“Stand there completely nude?”
Juliet rolled her eyes. “Really, Sophia, you act as if you've never done this before.”
“It was only once before, and it was dark. Besides, if I drop the nightgown he's bound to see the bruises and my wound and that won't be good either.”
Juliet tapped her chin with her finger. “Good point. Leave the nightgown on. There won't be much to it anyway.”
Sophia looked at her sister in a combination of awe and horror. How did she know about these things? Did marriage teach you this much?
Juliet came and took her shoulders. “Above all, Sophia, be honest with Ian. Tell him you love him and that he's the only man for you.”
“What if he leaves the room?”
Juliet smiled. “Don't let him. Use any means necessary to keep him there. He wants you badly, so it won't be too hard.”
“And you're sure this will work?”
“Positive,” Juliet said. She took Sophia's hands. “He aches for you. Tony tells me he is miserable without you. Trust me. He loves you.”
Sophia nodded, feeling tears prick behind her eyes. Lord, she was sick of crying over this man.
“Which flowers do you want in his room?” Juliet asked.
Sophia stood slowly and pointed to the bouquets she wanted. Juliet went for a maid to help her with them.
Anne stepped into the room when Juliet had returned and was directing the maid to remove the flowers. “What are you doing?” she asked her sister.
Juliet glanced at Sophia. “Taking some of these flowers home. It seems a shame to waste them.”
“Waste them? How?”
“Anne, it hurts to look at them. I thought Juliet could take some and enjoy them before they wilted completely,” Sophia said.
Anne rushed to her side. “I'm so sorry. You should have said something to me.”
“I didn't want to trouble you.”
Anne smiled sadly. “Well, now that you are up and around in your room, you can take dinner with us downstairs tonight.”
Sophia heart beat frantically in panic. “I don't think so, Anne. I'll have a tray.”
“But you need to rejoin the family at some point.”
“Just one more day and I will. Please.”
Anne gave in and kissed her forehead. “Get some rest after Juliet leaves.”
Juliet looked at Sophia as Anne left. “That was a close call.”
“Yes, it was. Are you sure I can do this, Juliet? I have no clue what I'm doing.”
Juliet hugged her sister. “You won't have to do much. Just stand there looking beautiful and tell him you love him. Ian will do the rest.”
* * *
Ian sat in the parlor, trying to avoid the way Juliet and Tony were looking at each other. “Could you two please go upstairs?”
“Ian McDonald, I have no idea what you're referring to,” Juliet said as Tony nuzzled her neck.
Ian glared at her, then looked down at his book. He'd been reading the same damn page for two hours, but he couldn't go to bed. Sleep had evaded him for days now. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Sophia with blood on her hands. He dreamed of blood on his own hands. The sooner he returned home and got away from everything that reminded him of her the better he'd be.
“Perhaps he's right, dear. You look very tired,” Tony said.
“I shall go up, then.” Juliet kissed Tony before she said, “Good night, Ian. Sleep well.”
Ian frowned at her as she left. “She is up to something.”
Tony laughed. “I hope so, for my sake.”
“You two make me ill. Can't you save that stuff for the bedroom?” Ian grumbled. In truth, he was envious of their relationship. He knew it hadn't always been that way. He was glad Tony had found his Juliet, but honestly, how much more of this was he supposed to have to take?
Tony grew serious. “What time do you leave in the morning?”
“I thought I'd go after breakfast. It will take a day and a half to get there from here.”
“Where will you spend the night?”
“Somewhere around Clifton, probably. Shouldn't you be going up to your wife?”
“So you can drink yourself into oblivion? Why don't you stay longer? Go talk with Sophia.”
“She doesn't want to see me or she'd have sent for me.”
“Why would she do that? You know as well as I that a lady cannot be seen pursuing a gentleman.”
“I hate all that nonsense.”
“Then you should not have picked Sophia to fall in love with. She is extremely attentive to all things proper. You will have to make the first move.”
“Did Juliet say how Sophia was?”
“She is up and about. Her wound is healing nicely and she didn't take a fever, so we have that to be thankful for.”
Ian toyed with his book. “I'm glad. I hope she finds every happiness.”
“She will if you stay and call on her.”
Ian shook his head. “She deserves better. She said so herself.”
“I don't believe Sophia thinks that and neither do you. Give her a chance, Ian. Don't throw away your own happiness without even trying.”
“I have tried.” He stood, taking the book with him. “I'm just not sure I could do it again and lose.”
Tony nodded in resignation. “Good night, Ian. Rest well.”
Ian trudged up the steps, wishing he'd grabbed the brandy while he was still downstairs. There was no way he was going to be able to sleep tonight. The idea of spending the next day and a half in the carriage alone with his thoughts didn't thrill him either. But he had no choice. It was time to go home and get on with life, get on with the business of putting this behind him.
Every other time he'd dealt with disappointment, he'd had his work to get him through. This time would be no different. He opened the door to his room and glanced at the fireplace. Someone had lit the fire. He tossed his book on a nearby table. He pulled off his jacked and removed his waistcoat. He set them out for the servants to pack in the morning. He pulled lose his cravat and added it to the pile.
He moved to a chair and removed his boots. It was then that he noticed them: flowers. They filled every corner of the room. His heart thudded in his chest. He stood slowly and turned to the bed.
His heart skipped and then beat faster. Sophia was asleep. Her dark hair flowed around her. She was wearing some sort of diaphanous gown that left a good portion of her legs bare and hinted at the rest. He could see the fading bruises from her fall from the horse, another reminder of the consequences of his actions.
Ian moved to the bed and shook her gently. “Sophia. Wake up.”
She made a noise and then stretched. Ian had to swallow hard to force himself to look away as she arched her back. “Ian, you're here, finally.” Her voice was roughened by sleep. “What took you so long?”
“What are you doing here?”
The harshness of his voice must have gotten through to her for she frowned and sat up with a wince.
“Shouldn't you be in bed?” he asked.
Sophia smiled. “I am in bed.”
“Not mine but yours.”
“Yours is more comfortable.”
Ian could feel his control slipping. He moved to the other side of the room to put some distance between them. “You should be in your own room at the Lodge. Please tell me you didn't walk over here by yourself.”
She slipped from the bed. The gown, if one could call it that, dipped low in the front and was so thin he could see her nipples pushing tight against the fabric. It hugged her curves, leaving little to his imagination. One side fell from her shoulder, revealing the upper curve of her breast.