Tainted Bride (13 page)

Daniel stretched the shoulder he’d landed on and sat next to him. He tossed his gloves and mask aside and rested his head in his hand. “I cannot go through this again, Tom.”

“Jocelyn and Sophia have nothing in common. However, you obviously have your doubts. I suggest you talk to the lady and see what she says. Do you really believe Lady Collington would sponsor her if what Pundington said is true?”

“She might have lied to her aunt,” Daniel said.

“You must be joking. Sophia wears her emotions directly in those unusual golden eyes. She couldn’t lie successfully and certainly not to someone as astute as Lady Collington.”

“I just do not know, Tom.” He shook his head while rubbing his temple.

Thomas got up and gave his foil, mask and gloves to his valet. He removed the protective vest and shrugged into a more fashionable morning coat. “Well, my friend, you had better decide what you want. I did not jest when I said I would offer for her. I think she and I might be a good match. Not a love match, but she is beautiful and intelligent and I’m fond of her, which is more than I can say for most other women of the ton.”

“You are serious.” Daniel’s heart beat wildly and his stomach twisted in a knot that threatened to upheave his breakfast. The idea of spending the rest of his life seeing Sophia as Mrs. Thomas Wheel was untenable.

“I could not be more so. I can see that you love her and that she obviously is in love with you. Because I care about you both, I shall wait. However, I’ll not wait indefinitely. I’ll see you on Friday in the country.” He bowed and left.

Daniel tried thinking without all the hurt and anger that had guided his actions for the past few days. Everything Thomas said was true. He would give the matter more thought. How long would he allow Jocelyn’s actions to rule his life?

Sophia spent hours begging Aunt Daphne to allow her to stay in London rather than go to Lady Marlton’s house party. But all her pleading was to no avail. It was the invitation of the season, they had accepted, and it would take an act of God to keep them from Marlton Hall.

So she prayed for an act of God.

Pray as she might, on Friday they took the Collington carriage and made the trip to join her friends and Daniel in the country.

Hills and fields spread out before her and gave a bit of distraction from seeing Daniel. She tapped the windowsill until Aunt Daphne commanded her to stop. Once the rain stopped, she tugged at the sleeves of her dress and squirmed as perspiration ran down her back. A bit of blue sky peeked out for a little while.

The drive up to Daniel’s estate was canopied by a mile of giant oak. By far the largest house she’d ever seen, Marlton Hall boasted three stories with large windows. The tall glass reflected blue sky and fluffy clouds. Heaven plopped down in the English countryside. Sophia struggled to catch her breath.

“Not a bad piece of property, eh?” Aunt Daphne chuckled.

“My word. How do they find their way around such a palace?” The drive widened and curved around a reflecting pond. Great stairs rose up to the front door and several servants stood waiting.

“I think they manage, Sophia. It is only a house, a rather enormous one, but a house just the same. Try to close your mouth before we alight from the carriage, my dear.”

Lady Marlton and Cissy greeted them in front of the house. They were not the first to arrive. Elinor and Virginia Burkenstock were already in residence and were resting above stairs. Dory and her family had not yet arrived but were expected soon.

Mrs. Wade, the housekeeper, a woman of some girth in a serviceable blue dress, showed Sophia and Daphne to rooms on the second floor. They climbed a steep flight of stairs and walked down two long hallways, all the while Mrs. Wade’s keys kept a steady cadence.

Aunt Daphne said she would rest before dinner, but Sophia’s mind filled with a thousand different horrors that might destroy the week in the country. Every one of them left her more miserable than the last.

Remarkably, she managed to find her way through the house and into the elaborate gardens. Once she found the garden gate, the property stretched out in miles of rolling hills. However, did he keep track of so much land? One knoll looked much like the next. Fresh air and sunshine warmed her face. She stood on the top of a hill, breathed deeply and closed her eyes. Warm grass and rich earth, just like home.

“What are you thinking about?”

She gasped and opened her eyes, whirling toward Daniel’s voice.

He dismounted his chestnut horse and threw the reins over the saddle. He gave the horse a pat and a few words and it eagerly trotted away. He turned back to her holding up both hands as if in surrender. “I apologize. I did not mean to startle you. I saw you from across the field and you were so engrossed you did not hear my approach.”

“I thought I was alone.” She blurted out the statement unable to think of anything intelligent to say. Why didn’t he look angry as he had at the theatre? Her nerves frayed. The least he could do was be consistent. She was always on edge when he was around and she didn’t like it.

He grinned, which lit a spark in his eyes. “Obviously. What were you thinking?”

She turned away and walked a few steps, creating some distance between them. She considered running back to the house, but he would catch her and even if he didn’t, she would still have an entire week of embarrassment over her behavior on the first day. “I was just thinking that this reminds me of home.”

He stared out over his property. “It’s good farmland.”

Papa would visit the nearby farmers once a month and see how they were doing. He kept up good relationships with all the local people and often traded with the farmers. The shipping business did well because Charles Braighton was admired by so many people.

“Thomas told me he intends to marry you.” His expression was calm and unreadable.

It wouldn’t do to run screaming back to the house now. She swallowed and kept her eyes on the land, the trees, a passing bird, anywhere but at him. “He mentioned it to me as well.”

“Will you accept his offer?”

“I don’t see how that is any of your business, Lord Marlton.”

He took several steps toward her.

She stiffened and ordered her feet not to move. He was going to touch her and the air simmered between them.

His hands settled on her shoulders. “It is none of my business, Sophia. I have no idea why you draw me in the way you do. I want to stay away from you, but I cannot seem to do it. Tom is a good man. The best man I know. You could do no better and yet the thought of you marrying him fills me with rage, which I find difficult to control. The idea of anyone else having you is repulsive to me.”

His speech took some fire out of her. “I don’t wish to marry at all.”

“You told me that before.”

“I meant it.”

“But you will accept Tom if he asks.” He said knowingly.

She forced a smile. “Mr. Wheel makes a good argument for a marriage between us. I like him very much.” It sounded a bit too simple but it was impossible to lie no matter how much she would have preferred it.

Daniel shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Shall we talk of something else?”

She shook her head. “I think I should return to the house and we should try to avoid each other this week, my lord. I seem to have the ability to make you angry. I do not wish to do so, but it’s obvious we can’t get along. I’ll keep my distance and I would appreciate it if you would do the same.”

He closed the gap. “Anger is not the only emotion you stir in me, Sophia. I find I can think of little else but you when you are near. If I could stay away from you I would, but I’m drawn to you like moth to flame.”

She took a step back. “All the more reason to stay away from me as the moth never fairs well in that situation.”

“You do not like me. You like Tom, but not me.” He stared up at the clearing sky, his voice far away.

She sighed. “My feelings for you are unclear, my lord. I’m confused in your presence and I fear you.”

He touched her cheek. “Fear me? That, I could never want, Sophia. I would never harm you.”

His lips brushed hers so gently it was more of a whisper than a kiss.

Her stomach fluttered and her breasts ached. She tried, but failed to stop the tear that trickled down her cheek.

“Why are you crying?”

Helpless, she couldn’t look away. “I don’t know. I want…”

He buried his face in the crook of her neck. “Yes, sweet, what do you want?”

She shook her head and stepped away again. “I don’t know. You scare me, my lord. I don’t want whatever this is I feel when you are close. I don’t understand, I don’t like it and I would much prefer if you would keep your distance.”

She turned and ran toward the house.

* * * *

The party gathered in the formal parlor at seven. The congregation consisted of quite a few people Sophia didn’t know. She sought Dory, who introduced her father, Lord Castlereagh. Lady Castlereagh spared Sophia half a glance. Evidently, she was not quite ready to banish the rumors. Dory also introduced her to her brother, Markus and his wife, Emma. Dory had a younger brother who was away at school and unable to join them for the week.

Thomas leaned against a wall in the parlor. Sir Michael had not arrived though he was expected. Lord and Lady Dowder were present with their twin daughters, Serena and Sylvia. It was the first time Sophia had met them, but the skinny brunettes had flitted around the Fallon ballroom. They both appeared to be in love with Thomas. It would be interesting to see how they intended to work that out. Would they fight over him or just wait and see if he picked one of them? They were silly girls, but she greeted them politely.

After meeting Lady Blyth and Mrs. Hatton, who were sisters around Aunt Daphne’s age and both widowed, Sophia was able to sit down with Dory on a settee in the corner of the room. She ran one finger over the blue embroidery of the cushion.

“Where were you today? This is a big house, but I searched everywhere when we arrived and you were nowhere to be found.” Dory asked.

“I went for a long walk around the grounds.” Sophia bit her bottom lip.

Dory tilted her head to one side. “Did you walk alone, or did one of your admirers join you?”

“I have no admirers.”

Both of Dory’s curved eyebrows rose up. “Really? Then why is Lord Marlton pretending not to look over here and why is Mr. Wheel striding determinedly in this direction?”

“I have much to tell you, but this is not the time or the place.” Sophia turned her head to see Tom walking over and smiling his most charming smile.

“Indeed,” Dory said.

“May I join you ladies?” Thomas asked.

Dory said, “I have been ill mannered and ignored my good friend Elinor since we began the evening. Will you both excuse me?”

Thomas bowed to her as she rushed off on her fictitious mission.

“How are you?” he asked.

“I’m fine, Tom. How are you?” It was nice to sit with Tom. He was easy to be with.

“Have you thought about my proposal?”

“I have been able to think of little else.”

“I wish the thought of marrying me did not create such an unhappy expression on your otherwise lovely face. Is it such a terrible prospect?” His scowl transformed into a congenial smile.

“Oh, Tom, I’m sorry. Not at all. It’s a wonderful offer. I just don’t know if I want to marry at all and I worry, should I have to decline, you will never forgive me and I’ll lose a valuable friend.”

“I shall always be your friend, Sophia. You may count on that regardless of your answer.”

“Thank you, Tom.”

He grinned and changed the subject. “Daniel and I are going hunting in the morning. Hopefully, we’ll have some pheasant for supper if all goes well.”

“I wish you good luck.” She was glad to have something else to speak about.

His expression turned. “Unfortunately, the Dowder twins have caught wind of our plans and insist on accompanying us.”

Sophia giggled. “I think they are both in love with you. It worries me that they’ll come to blows over you. I’ve never seen so many eyelashes fluttering as when those girls look at you.”

“Do not joke. They are a nuisance. I would have thought twice of accepting the invitation if I had known those two would be here. They follow me relentlessly if I dare to attend a ball. I cannot imagine how an entire week with them will be. Torture, I tell you.”

She laughed heartily at his distress. “They are lovely girls. You should pay them some attention. Besides, once Lord Michael and the other gentlemen arrive I’m sure Sylvia and Serena will be distracted and leave you alone. Though, you are quite irresistible.”

He joined her mirth. “You seem quite able to resist me.”

“Oh, but I’m not like the other girls, Mr. Wheel. You would do well to remember that.”

“A truer statement was never made.”

She didn’t get the chance to question his response.

The butler called for dinner.

“May I escort you in, Miss Braighton?” He stood and offered his arm.

She took it and smiled up at him.

Daniel escorted his mother in to dinner, though he continued watching her. He frowned and a deep crease formed between his brows. Perhaps he would rush over and beat Thomas to a pulp at any moment. She kept her gaze away from Daniel.

Daniel sat at the head of the table with Lady Marlton at the other end. Sophia was near the middle, with Dory’s Brother on the left and Lady Blyth on her right. Dory and Elinor were both near the head of the table and Aunt Daphne sat across and several places over.

Lady Blyth made a great effort to ignore her but Dory’s brother, Markus was good company. “My sister tells me you two have become good friends. She writes to me weekly and for the past few letters I have heard of nothing but you, Miss Braighton.”

Sophia felt happy for the first time in a long time. Dory’s friendship was one of the best things that had ever happened to her. “I don’t think I have ever had a better friend than your sister. Dory is very dear to me. I don’t know if I could survive London without her.”